The Educational Triage Podcast

Building a Great Alt Ed Program -Population, Delivery, Benchmarks

Building a Great Alt Ed Program/School - Delivery, Populations, and Benchmarks
When creating your program, or refashioning the schedule, goals, or what have you, here are some questions you might keep in mind: 
 What is your purpose and how is that aligning with the student's needs?
How are you achieving the school/program goals?
How are the students central to your objectives?
How do you establish the relationship between the staff and the students, as well as the program?
How do you ensure program integrity?
What are your Who and Why Connections? 
How does your schedule work with the student's needs? 
Are you a Seminar? Lecture? Workshop?  Exploratory?
How are you structured? 
What are your benchmarks? 
How do students work on those benchmark goals and pass them to progress? 
#AltEd  #AlternativeEducation  #AltEdPodcast #AlternativeEducationPodcast #BuildingAltEdPrograms  #CreatingAlternativeEducationSchools #CreatingAlternativeLearning #AlternativeLearningSpaces #LearningGoals #LearningBenchmarks #MeetingLearningBenchmarks #StudentCenteredLearning 
#StudentNeeds #FulfillingStudentNeeds #StudentProgramRelationships #ProgramIntegrity #MeetingStudentNeeds #MeetingWhoandWhyConnectionsinEducation  #EducationalProgramStructure #StudentScheduling #StudentEquity

Building a Great Alt Ed Program/School - Community Involvement

Building a Great Alt Ed Program/School - Community Involvement
We sometimes forget that a part of our mission is not only inclusion on the part of the students, but also their families, the businesses, and all those who participate in the community around our school and program.  Who better to advocate than those who are also participating in the mix!  And, there are also added benefits to having everyone participate - there is more trust, transparency, and involvement to the betterment, overall, of the students, learning, and of the community.  It’s not just sports, anymore.  
 
Were we to figure out the best blueprint in closing the achievement gap(s), then bringing in everyone and having services that are beneficial to them in the central location, recreates the village square.  And, hasn’t it been said that “It takes a village”?  
 
This week we explore this aspect of creating a vibrant, growing, and thriving educational community. 
#AlternativeEducation #AltEd  #AltEdPodcast #AlternativeEducationPodcast #EducationalPodcast #EducationandtheCommunity #ItTakesAVillage #ClosingtheAchievmentGap #VibrantCommunity #CommunityInvolvement #InclusionaryEducation #ParentEducation #ParentInvolvement #BusinessSchoolPartnership #EducationalPartnerships #FamilyTutoring #StudentSuccess #ParentalSuccess  #CommunitySuccess #SuccessfulSchools #SuccessfulEducation

Building a Great Alt Ed Program/School part 2 - Leadership

Building a Great Alt Ed Program/School - Part 2 - Leadership
Having the right leader is imperative to building and maintaining the optimal program(s).  This does not mean they are all cut from the same cloth - rather they know their weaknesses and strengths, and this self-awareness makes them genuine and ready for the good fight.  These are the ones who will champion the students, the teachers, and staff.  These are the ones who are open to critical feedback and know how to use it to further the goals of the school/program.  This does not mean they are all superbeings.  They are human.  They empathize not sympathize.  It’s all about the same shared goals and struggles.  
 
There are many facets to being a good leader, though, and this week Philip and I discuss through those  - from the Norwich University online - we try to assemble the traits that should be sought in order to help build your program/school.  
Philip also brings up Simon Sinek and his book, Leaders Eat Last.  
 
#AlteranativeEducation  #AltEd  #AltEdPodcast #AlternativeEducationPodcast #BuildinganAlternativeEducationProgram  #AlternativeEducationLeadership #AltEdLeadership #LeadershipinAltEd #LeadershipinAlternativeEducation #AltEdLeaders #AlternativeEducationLeaders #BuildingStaffinAlternativeEducation #CreatingAltEdPrograms
#SuccessfulAltEdPrograms #CreatingSuccessfulAlternativeEducationPrograms #AltEdEquity  #FundingEquityinAlternativeEducation #AlternativeEducation #AltEd #ContractSchools  #EducationalFundingSources #FundingSourcesinEducation #GrowthMindsetandEducationalFunding #UsingGrowthMindsetinAlternativeEducation
 

Building a Great Alt Ed Program/School part oneA

Let’s say you’re on the fence about reworking, starting, or regenerating your program or school.    What are the steps you should take in order to put things into perspective?   Whenever we work to calibrate our work, environment, and program, we constantly evaluate where we are in these steps - are we focused on what’s best for every student?  Are we making headway with our goals?   What will you need to figure out to make your program or school the best place for student learning, growth, and success?  
 
This week we look at setting the goals, as well as the ultimate goal of your school or program, creating the mission statement, looking at the use of pedagogies, and whether or not you stick to one or keep yourselves open and fluid.  And, then there’s the staffing - are you working with people who put ego and appearances over the students? Or are you working with those who are committed to helping those students realize their potential and grow to become the best they can be?  
 
These are just the beginning steps in our series that we engage in to help you and ourselves remember and evaluate where we stand in our engagements and think about always being better.  
 
#AlternativeEducation #AlternativeEducationPodcast #AltEd  #AltEdPodcast #AltEdGoals #GoalsinAlternativeEducation #AlternativeEducationProgramPlanning #AlternativeEducationMission #AlternativeEducationEvaluation #AltEdMIssion #AltEdProgramPlanning #Student-CenteredEducation #AlternativeEducationEvaluation #AltEdAssessment #AltEdStaffing #AlternativeEducationStaffing #StaffinganAlternativeEducationProgram 

Funding Equity in Alternative Education

Funding Equity in Alternative Programs and Schools
This week I am joined by Roxanne Wilson from the 5 Corners program in rural Oregon.  We began having a chat on this issue because her program was refused COVID Relief funds because she received public funding, but it is a private program;  yet she was refused the private funds because she receives public funds - a true Catch-22.    So, herein we ask the questions. 
 
Are alternative programs indeed receiving the funding required to adequately serve their population(s)?  Is it political football?  Why shouldn’t they receive at least as much if not more as most of these programs, as defined by the majority of states would expend far more on resources than the typical school programs?  
 
Roxanne takes us through her dilemma and her adventures in attempting to figure out how to best serve her families and population despite the obstacles because of the funding challenges.  
 
Here are some funding programs that we discuss:
 
Delinquent and Neglected Youth Act
 
McKinney-Vento Act
 
Migrant Education Program
 
If you’d like to reach out to Roxanne you can find her at:  roxanne@5ca.org
 
Funding Equity in Alternative Programs and Schools
This week I am joined by Roxanne Wilson from the 5 Corners program in rural Oregon.  We began having a chat on this issue because her program was refused COVID Relief funds because she received public funding, but it is a private program;  yet she was refused the private funds because she receives public funds - a true Catch-22.    So, herein we ask the questions. 
 
Are alternative programs indeed receiving the funding required to adequately serve their population(s)?  Is it political football?  Why shouldn’t they receive at least as much if not more as most of these programs, as defined by the majority of states would expend far more on resources than the typical school programs?  
 
Roxanne takes us through her dilemma and her adventures in attempting to figure out how to best serve her families and population despite the obstacles because of the funding challenges.  
 
Here are some funding programs that we discuss:
 
Delinquent and Neglected Youth Act
 
McKinney-Vento Act
 
Migrant Education Program
 
If you’d like to reach out to Roxanne you can find her at:  roxanne@5ca.org
 
#AltEdFunding  #FundinginAlternativeEducation #FundingAltEd  #EquityinFundingEducation
#AltEdEquity  #FundingEquityinAlternativeEducation #AlternativeEducation #AltEd #ContractSchools  #EducationalFundingSources #FundingSourcesinEducation #GrowthMindsetandEducationalFunding #UsingGrowthMindsetinAlternativeEducation
#EducationalPodcast #AltEdPodcast #AlternativeEducationPodcast #AlternativeEducationInterview #EducationalInterview

Using Grit in the Alt Ed Classroom

We talk about Grit this week - Angela Duckworth’s kind of Grit, and how we might implement it in the classroom - or even in school/program.   The one constant must be working with perseverance and passion - how to keep it alive and moving?  What benchmarks could you use?  This week Philip and I chat about what this might look like.  Join us! 
 
What’s Grit Got to Do With Learning?
 
The Role of Grit in Education: A Systemic Review 
 
Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverence by Angela Duckworth
 
What’s Wrong with Grit?
#Grit  #WhatisGrit #GritinEducation #TeachingGrit #GritandOpenMIndset #GritandAlternativeEducation #GritandAltEd #CanyouteachGrit #IsGritLearned #AlternativeEducation  #AlternativeEducationPodcast #EducationalPodcat #PodcastinEducation
#TeachingPodcast #PodcastaboutTeaching #PodcastonGrit #AngelaDuckworthinEducation #AngelaDuckworthGritinEducation #PossibilitesinEducaton
in school/program.   The one constant must be working with perseverance and passion - how to keep it alive and moving?  What benchmarks could you use?  This week Philip and I chat about what this might look like.  Join us!  

Between 2 States - How Alternative Education Varies from State to State

Between 2 States - How Alternative Education Easily Varies from State to State
This week Annie Marges from the Oregon Department of Education and Liz Quayle from the Washington State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction join me for a chat about how their state defines, funds, audits/evaluates, certifies teachers, and other issues on Alternative Education.  There is a lot in this short time, and I learned a great deal!  Join us! 
Annie Marges is the Alternative Education Options Specialist for the Oregon Department of Education - in this role, she supports alternative education, GED programs, and homeschooling for the State. Prior to her employment with the ODE, Annie was in the classroom for 17 years (mostly high school, some college) as a teacher, career coach, and department leader, and the last 10 of those years were in alternative schools. When she learned that there was a person at ODE who supported the Alt Ed community, she said “that’s my job!” and has been thrilled to be in this role for the last three and a half years.
 
Educational success came late to Annie - she barely graduated high school, flunked out of college, and took five years off before she returned to higher education, ready to learn. What she discovered was that engaging teachers, those who helped their students see themselves in the work, made all the difference, and she decided she wanted to be that kind of teacher. More than that, she wanted all students to see themselves as learners and experience academic success. Now she is able to advocate for all students through her support of alternative schools and programs for the State of Oregon, precisely where she wants to be. 
To contact Annie for any further information she may be contacted at: Annie.Marges@ode.oregon.gov
 
Liz Quayle has been involved in alternative education in Washington State for over 30 years and is a National Board Certified Teacher. She has taught in alternative secondary schools and was director-teacher (& more!) in an alternative learning experience program for 21 years, where, at one point or another, she taught all subject areas to all grade levels K-12. She especially enjoyed combining content areas and student interests to make learning relevant. Liz also held leadership roles on the board of the Washington Association for Learning Alternatives (WALA) for a period of 10 years.
For the past five years, Liz has been part of the Learning Options department at Washington’s Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction as Alternative Learning Accountability Manager and Mastery-based Learning Manager. She supports all kinds of learning options around the state, from alternative learning experience programs to dropout reengagement to mastery-based learning.
Liz lives in Port Townsend with her partner Doug in an old 1917 schoolhouse and enjoys commuting to Olympia once or twice a week down the winding road along Hood Canal.
For more information, Liz may be contacted at: Liz.Quayle@k12.wa.us
 
For more information from or about the National Alternative Education Association and their resources, or conferences, go to: https://www.the-naea.org/  Here you’ll find information about your state organization, resources, and even a degree in Alternative Education!  The upcoming conference is October 19 - 21, 2022 in St Louis, MO. 
 
The Aurora Institute Symposium that Liz refers to is virtual!  This is October 24-26, 2022.  
#AlternativeEducation #AltEd #AltEdDefinitions #AlternativeEducationDefinitions #DefinitionsofAlternativeEducation #HowstatesdefineAlternativeEducation #OregondefinitionofAlternativeEducation #WashingtonStateDefinitionofAlternativeEducation #WashingtonOSPIandAlternativeEducation #OregonDepartmentofEducationdefinitionofAlternativeEducation #FundingforAlternativeEducationSchools #FundingforAlternativeEducationPrograms #OregonAltEdFunding #Oregonfundingforalternativeeducation #Washingtonaltedfunding #Washingtonfundingforalternativeeducation #SchoolEvaluation #Washingtonschoolaudits #Washingtonalternativeeducationevaluation #AlternativeEducationevaluationinWashington #AlternativeEducationevaluationinOregon #AlternativeEducationPolicies #StatePoliciesonAltEd #StatePoliciesonAlternativeEducation #OregonAlternativeEducationPolicy #WashingtonAlternativeEducationPolicy #TeacherCertification #RunningStart #StateDifferencesinProgramDefinitions #OptionalLearning #StudentSuccess #FundinginequitiesinAlternativeEducation #StateAlternativeEducationOrganizations #StateResourcesforaltternativeeducation #AlterantiveEducationresources #altedresources #StateAltEdResources #AlternativeEducationConferences #AltEdConferences #AlternativeEducationIdeas #AltEdIdeas #AlternativeEducationCollaboration #EducationalCollaboration #StateCollaborationinEducation #EducationalCollaboration #StateCollaboration 

About the Teacher Shortage

About the Teacher Shortage…..
The teacher shortage is nothing new.  There have been articles proclaiming it as a near “crisis” for decades.  But, the numbers leaving are growing, and since the pandemic, more teachers are leaving due to burnout among other reasons.   
 
This week I talk about many of the reasons teachers are leaving as well as why there is a declining enrollment in teacher education programs - why would anyone want to be a teacher?  
A Great Question! 
 
While there are altruistic reasons there are obstacles in the way that work as great erasers for the satisfaction and desire to work with our students and engulf ourselves in dedication to our work.  
 
As you listen I hope you are able to begin constructing some options or some ideas that you can share with others in order to bring back the dignity, strength, and joy of teaching to the community as well as to your students.    
 
Below are many of the resources I used for this episode.  
 
Take care - 
 
T
 
What’s Behind the School Staffing Shortages – And What Districts Can Do To Address Them
 
10 States With Massive Teacher Shortages (August 2022)
Here’s How the White House Is Tackling Teacher Shortages
Teacher Shortage Is Misunderstood
Teacher Shortages: Catastrophe or Opportunity?
Teacher Shortage Imperils Reform, New Study Says
How Can We Solve the Teacher Staffing Shortage?
What’s Behind the School Staffing Shortages – And What Districts Can Do To Address Them
 
Teacher shortage? Depends where you look
The most popular solution to teacher shortages? Paying teachers more
These 2022 Teacher Shortage Statistics Prove We Need To Fix This Profession
What’s Behind the School Staffing Shortages - And What Districts Can Do To Address Them (Video) 
 
How Can We Solve the Teacher Staffing Shortage (Video)
 
Ongoing teacher shortage continues to impact Central Texas schools | KVUE (Video)
 
I Never Wanted to Leave | I Had to Resign (Video)
 
The Top 5 Reasons for the Teacher Shortage (Video)
 
Why are so many teachers quitting the classroom? | 60 Minutes Australia (Video)
#TeacherShortage #SolvingtheTeacherShortage #EducatorsinCrisis #EducationSolutions #EducationPodcast #AlternativeEducation #AlternativeEducationPodcast #TeachersLeaving #TeachersQuitting #TeacherAutonomy #TeacherRespect #TeacherPay 
 
Speaking Of | Program | In Depth Look at the Teacher Shortage (Video)

What Are Some Survival Skills Students Should Know By Graduation?

What Are Some Survival Skills Students Should Know By Graduation?
Aside from regular academics, there are many skills that students probably should know in order to help them survive and prosper in the real world.  What are they?  This week, Philip and I discuss - he thinks academics, I think outside the scholastic world.  
 
Why? Because there is nothing worse than realizing you were never taught some skills that might be seen as pretty basic - and yet, there is nothing worse than discovering you are up a creek without a boat or a paddle!  
 
What could those be?  Well, this is not an exhaustive list, but it’s a start!  What others would you add? 
 
#AlternativeEducation #Teacherplanning #Teacherresources #Educationalpreparation #StudentPreparation #CurriculumPlanning #educationalpodcast #AltEd #teaching #teachers #backtoschool #classroom #teachingideas #whatstudentsshouldknow #essentialstudentskills
#essentiallearningskills #studentsuccess #studentfuturesuccess #alternativeeducationpodcast #altEdpodcast #teacherpodcast #podcast #educationalpodcast

Wingspans with Dr Lindsay Kuhn

Wingspans with Dr. Lindsay Kuhn
So often we are given what feels like a corporate-designed product that helps students figure out their next adventures in life - in other words, careers, educational majors, and other ideas that might pique the interests of those with whom we work.  Well, here is another take on that. 
 
Lindsay Kuhn is changing the way a new generation finds their dream career. She is the founder of Wingspans, a platform that uses storytelling to help students find a career that aligns with the market and their needs. While doing a Ph.D. in engineering, she spent a sliver of her time teaching in a local school. It was at this moment she realized the incredible gap and the problems we would face to create the future of work that we all want - one
where enterprises have the labor they need and where people have access to careers that uplift them.
 
Wingspans uses storytelling for self-discovery, career exploration, and lifelong success. They partner with high schools and community colleges to help their students reimagine their futures and achieve better outcomes.
 
So, please join us as we learn more, and investigate, and welcome Dr. Kuhn and her endeavors. 
 
#Wingspans  #CareerEducation #AlternativeEducation