ChangeAgents In K12: Motivating Transformation In Education
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The *ChangeAgents In K12: Motivating Transformation In Education* podcast features interviews with top educators, practitioners, and leaders discussing significant topics related to K12 Education. Join the conversation and our guests as they share personal experiences, best practices, and compelling research all revolving around one common goal: enacting change in education. #BeTheChange
This podcast is presented by SchoolMint.com
About Us
We're disruptors passionate about all things education. Inspired by the many heroes educating the future of our nation, we've set out to create the space for emerging next big ideas in education.
Available episodes
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Oldest first
6 days ago
District Spotlight: Santa Ana Unified School District
Guest *Jerry Almendarez*, Superintendent of Santa Ana Unified School District, discusses the use of “strategic foresight” in order to plan for, innovate, and meet the challenges of our new educational environment, such as declining enrollment and social/emotional well being of students and staff.
Host Bio: *Dr. Chris Balow* is the Chief Academic Officer at SchoolMint. Dr. Balow has a Ph.D in Educational Psychology and served for 33 years as an educator in various roles with focuses on literacy, mental health, and the behavioral and emotional growth of students. He has worked the last 6 years in the educational technology field to promote student success on a larger scale.
Mar 23, 2021
District Spotlight: Greeley-Evans School District 6
In this District Spotlight guest *Dr. Deirdre Pilch*, Superintendent of Greeley-Evans School District 6, describes difficulties, triumphs, and best practices for both her district and the role of superintendent in general, with some valuable advice for up and coming school leaders.
Host Bio: *Dr. Chris Balow* is the Chief Academic Officer at SchoolMint. Dr. Balow has a Ph.D in Educational Psychology and served for 33 years as an educator in various roles with focuses on literacy, mental health, and the behavioral and emotional growth of students. He has worked the last 6 years in the educational technology field to promote student success on a larger scale.
Mar 2, 2021
District Spotlight: Moreno Valley Unified School District
How can districts engage with their community and encourage their students to succeed, regardless of their situation? *Dr. Martinrex Kedziora*, Superintendent Moreno Valley USD, explains how his district’s focus on building relationships, increasing unique opportunities, and telling their district story have been critical pieces of their continued progress.
Host Bio: *Dr. Chris Balow* is the Chief Academic Officer at SchoolMint. Dr. Balow has a Ph.D in Educational Psychology and served for 33 years as an educator in various roles with focuses on literacy, mental health, and the behavioral and emotional growth of students. He has worked the last 6 years in the educational technology field to promote student success on a larger scale.
Feb 9, 2021
District Spotlight: Seminole County Public Schools
Guest *Dr. Walt Griffin*, Superintendent of Seminole County Public Schools, shares how his district’s focus on building relationships, changing the culture, and taking good care of both staff and students has led to improved student outcomes and the designation as one of the 100 healthiest places to work.
Host Bio: *Dr. Chris Balow* is the Chief Academic Officer at SchoolMint. Dr. Balow has a Ph.D in Educational Psychology and served for 33 years as an educator in various roles with focuses on literacy, mental health, and the behavioral and emotional growth of students. He has worked the last 6 years in the educational technology field to promote student success on a larger scale.
Jan 19, 2021
District Spotlight: Illinois School District U-46
In this District Spotlight, *Tony Sanders* (Superintendent of Illinois School District U-46) describes his professional journey to leading the second largest school district in Illinois. Topical district issues are also discussed, such as budgeting, Covid challenges, district communication, and how his district is working to provide access to unique programs and school choice for all students.
Host Bio: *Dr. Chris Balow* is the Chief Academic Officer at SchoolMint. Dr. Balow has a Ph.D in Educational Psychology and served for 33 years as an educator in various roles with focuses on literacy, mental health, and the behavioral and emotional growth of students. He has worked the last 6 years in the educational technology field to promote student success on a larger scale.
Dec 15, 2020
What Makes Us Different
How can we build a more inclusive system in order to make things better for all? Join guest, *Dr. Kenneth Magdaleno*, as he discusses his personal journey and the work of the Center for Leadership, Equity, and Research (CLEAR), which strives to meet that goal by providing resources to develop leaders, address inequity, and facilitate educator collaboration.
Host Bio: *Dr. Chris Balow* is the Chief Academic Officer at SchoolMint. Dr. Balow has a Ph.D in Educational Psychology and served for 33 years as an educator in various roles with focuses on literacy, mental health, and the behavioral and emotional growth of students. He has worked the last 6 years in the educational technology field to promote student success on a larger scale.
Dec 8, 2020
Rising To The Challenge
Guest *Joe McKown* discusses some of the challenges faced in education - including poverty, absenteeism, student behavior, and school climate - and provides data and insight empowering educators to meet these challenges.
Host Bio: *Dr. Chris Balow* is the Chief Academic Officer at SchoolMint. Dr. Balow has a Ph.D in Educational Psychology and served for 33 years as an educator in various roles with focuses on literacy, mental health, and the behavioral and emotional growth of students. He has worked the last 6 years in the educational technology field to promote student success on a larger scale.
Dec 1, 2020
Brain and Behavior: The Inseparable Link
With a compelling discussion of trauma and brain science, *Dr. Lori Desautels* explains how educators can use educational neuroscience to better understand student behavior and inform disciplinary strategies.
Host Bio: *Dr. Chris Balow* is the Chief Academic Officer at SchoolMint. Dr. Balow has a Ph.D in Educational Psychology and served for 33 years as an educator in various roles with focuses on literacy, mental health, and the behavioral and emotional growth of students. He has worked the last 6 years in the educational technology field to promote student success on a larger scale.
Nov 17, 2020
Creating Conditions For Powerful Learning: Answering the “Big Questions”
How do we define ‘learning’ and how can educators support powerful learning in schools? Guest *Will Richardson*, former educator for 22 years and co-founder of the “Big Questions Institute”, examines these questions and how fearless inquiry can lead educators to transformative student outcomes.
Host Bio: *Dr. Chris Balow* is the Chief Academic Officer at SchoolMint. Dr. Balow has a Ph.D in Educational Psychology and served for 33 years as an educator in various roles with focuses on literacy, mental health, and the behavioral and emotional growth of students. He has worked the last 6 years in the educational technology field to promote student success on a larger scale.
Nov 10, 2020
Connect, Learn, and Grow: An Educator's Evolution
Guest *Dr. Rachelle Dene Poth* explains the importance of being a “Connected Educator” and how unconventional teaching can change engagement and outcomes for students. Poth's approach has helped countless students reach their goals; her number one reason for continuing to share her knowledge and experiences with other educators.
Host Bio: *Dr. Chris Balow* is the Chief Academic Officer at SchoolMint. Dr. Balow has a Ph.D in Educational Psychology and served for 33 years as an educator in various roles with focuses on literacy, mental health, and the behavioral and emotional growth of students. He has worked the last 6 years in the educational technology field to promote student success on a larger scale.
Nov 3, 2020
Marketing Matters
Are you telling your school’s story? Guest *Nick LeRoy*, Founder and President of Bright Minds Marketing, examines the rise in school choice and its effect on recruitment and enrollment, providing detailed ways schools can be competitive and transition into more “customer centric” organizations.
Host Bio: *Dr. Chris Balow* is the Chief Academic Officer at SchoolMint. Dr. Balow has a Ph.D in Educational Psychology and served for 33 years as an educator in various roles with focuses on literacy, mental health, and the behavioral and emotional growth of students. He has worked the last 6 years in the educational technology field to promote student success on a larger scale.
Oct 27, 2020
Student Agency and the “Big Picture”
Guest *Dr. Elliot Washor,* co-founder of Big Picture Learning, joins us to share the impact of his organization and their work to foster learning spaces where students can freely and courageously pursue their passions and interests. Over the past 25 yrs, Big Picture Learning has worked to innovate and change education and Dr. Washor discusses the student focused learning model which is at the center of their student success.
Host Bio: *Dr. Chris Balow* is the Chief Academic Officer at SchoolMint. Dr. Balow has a Ph.D in Educational Psychology and served for 33 years as an educator in various roles with focuses on literacy, mental health, and the behavioral and emotional growth of students. He has worked the last 6 years in the educational technology field to promote student success on a larger scale.
Oct 20, 2020
Social Justice In Education
Guest *Dr. Kate Anderson Foley* shares her thoughts on educational social justice, including anecdotes from her personal and professional journey. Hear her thoughts on policy reform and what motivated her to write a children's book on helping young minds make sense of discrimination and prejudice.
Host Bio: *Dr. Chris Balow* is the Chief Academic Officer at SchoolMint. Dr. Balow has a Ph.D in Educational Psychology and served for 33 years as an educator in various roles with focuses on literacy, mental health, and the behavioral and emotional growth of students. He has worked the last 6 years in the educational technology field to promote student success on a larger scale.
Oct 13, 2020
District Spotlight: Minnetonka Public Schools
In this District Spotlight, guest *Dr. Dennis Peterson* (Superintendent of Minnetonka Public Schools) shares lessons learned from his 50+ years of experience, explains the unique challenges of being an open enrollment district, and discusses ways they have worked to champion innovation in order to make their schools stand out.
Host Bio: *Dr. Chris Balow* is the Chief Academic Officer at SchoolMint. Dr. Balow has a Ph.D in Educational Psychology and served for 33 years as an educator in various roles with focuses on literacy, mental health, and the behavioral and emotional growth of students. He has worked the last 6 years in the educational technology field to promote student success on a larger scale.
Sep 29, 2020
Organizational Redesign Through The “Equity Lens”
Guest *Dr. Stacy Scott* discusses how to make equity work in schools, including what challenges may be faced and the characteristics to promote organization success. Lean into this conversation on how school leaders can transform their organization so all students can succeed.
Host Bio: *Dr. Chris Balow* is the Chief Academic Officer at SchoolMint. Dr. Balow has a Ph.D in Educational Psychology and served for 33 years as an educator in various roles with focuses on literacy, mental health, and the behavioral and emotional growth of students. He has worked the last 6 years in the educational technology field to promote student success on a larger scale.
Sep 22, 2020
Formulating A Positive School Climate
What do SEL and School Climate efforts look like in practice and how can we continue to improve? Guest *Heather Anderson* discusses strategies used in the Charleston County School District and the “layers” school leaders should consider to realize a climate and culture that supports everyone.
Host Bio: *Dr. Chris Balow* is the Chief Academic Officer at SchoolMint. Dr. Balow has a Ph.D in Educational Psychology and served for 33 years as an educator in various roles with focuses on literacy, mental health, and the behavioral and emotional growth of students. He has worked the last 6 years in the educational technology field to promote student success on a larger scale.
Sep 15, 2020
Equity, Excellence, and Engagement: How Can We Accomplish It All?
Guest *Dr. Doug Reeves* takes a deep dive into equity, excellence, and student engagement; sharing information on his personal research, common obstacles, best practices, as well as where you can start.
Host Bio: *Dr. Chris Balow* is the Chief Academic Officer at SchoolMint. Dr. Balow has a Ph.D in Educational Psychology and served for 33 years as an educator in various roles with focuses on literacy, mental health, and the behavioral and emotional growth of students. He has worked the last 6 years in the educational technology field to promote student success on a larger scale.
Aug 25, 2020
District Spotlight: Fort Worth Independent School District
In this District Spotlight, guest *Dr. Kent Scribner,* Superintendent of Fort Worth ISD, shares their response to the pandemic. Dr. Scribner also discusses leadership in times of crisis and how Fort Worth ISD is working to meet student needs through the Leadership Academy Network, a 5 year partnership with Texas Wesleyan University established to sustain the rising academic achievements of the District’s five Leadership Academies.
Host Bio: *Dr. Chris Balow* is the Chief Academic Officer at SchoolMint. Dr. Balow has a Ph.D in Educational Psychology and served for 33 years as an educator in various roles with focuses on literacy, mental health, and the behavioral and emotional growth of students. He has worked the last 6 years in the educational technology field to promote student success on a larger scale.
Aug 18, 2020
Moving Forward Together
With all the recent events, what considerations must schools take into account when it’s time to reopen? Guest *Dr. Dennis Carpenter* discusses challenges and the changing landscape of education from both a safety and social justice standpoint.
Host Bio: *Dr. Chris Balow* is the Chief Academic Officer at SchoolMint. Dr. Balow has a Ph.D in Educational Psychology and served for 33 years as an educator in various roles with focuses on literacy, mental health, and the behavioral and emotional growth of students. He has worked the last 6 years in the educational technology field to promote student success on a larger scale.
Aug 13, 2020
School Spotlight: Southwest Allen County Schools
In this school spotlight, guest *Dr. Phil Downs*, Superintendent of SW Allen County Schools, offers thoughtful dialogue on preparations and practices that have been most beneficial to his district during the pandemic. Dr. Downs also notes challenges they've faced, preparations for reopening, and more!
Host Bio: *Dr. Chris Balow* is the Chief Academic Officer at SchoolMint. Dr. Balow has a Ph.D in Educational Psychology and served for 33 years as an educator in various roles with focuses on literacy, mental health, and the behavioral and emotional growth of students. He has worked the last 6 years in the educational technology field to promote student success on a larger scale.
Aug 11, 2020
Becoming Transformational In Education
How do we define transformation in education and what challenges lay ahead? Guest *Gary Soto* provides an extensive dialogue on what schools need to focus on in order to become truly transformational.
Host Bio: *Dr. Chris Balow* is the Chief Academic Officer at SchoolMint. Dr. Balow has a Ph.D in Educational Psychology and served for 33 years as an educator in various roles with focuses on literacy, mental health, and the behavioral and emotional growth of students. He has worked the last 6 years in the educational technology field to promote student success on a larger scale.
Aug 6, 2020
School Spotlight: Hilliard City Schools
In this school spotlight, guest *Dr. John Marschhausen* (Superintendent of Hilliard City Schools) shares district information and answers questions related to the pandemic closures. Dr. Marschhausen also provides insight into how districts can plan to meet students' needs.
Host Bio: *Dr. Chris Balow* is the Chief Academic Officer at SchoolMint. Dr. Balow has a Ph.D in Educational Psychology and served for 33 years as an educator in various roles with focuses on literacy, mental health, and the behavioral and emotional growth of students. He has worked the last 6 years in the educational technology field to promote student success on a larger scale.
Aug 4, 2020
Post-Pandemic Preparation
How has the pandemic affected students and how should schools address these needs when preparing to reopen? *Dr. Howie Knoff *provides valuable answers to these questions and shares five critical components necessary for success.
Host Bio: *Dr. Chris Balow* is the Chief Academic Officer at SchoolMint. Dr. Balow has a Ph.D in Educational Psychology and served for 33 years as an educator in various roles with focuses on literacy, mental health, and the behavioral and emotional growth of students. He has worked the last 6 years in the educational technology field to promote student success on a larger scale.
Jul 31, 2020
PBIS & SEL: Conversation and Challenges
An in-depth discussion on Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) and Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) with guest *Dr. Don Kincaid*. Key factors to school success and areas of possible deficiencies are examined, as well as points of concern stemming from closures due to the coronavirus pandemic for the upcoming school year.
Host Bio: *Dr. Chris Balow* is the Chief Academic Officer at SchoolMint. Dr. Balow has a Ph.D in Educational Psychology and served for 33 years as an educator in various roles with focuses on literacy, mental health, and the behavioral and emotional growth of students. He has worked the last 6 years in the educational technology field to promote student success on a larger scale.
Jul 31, 2020
Change Is Good: Transforming The Way We Think About “School”
Guest *Dr. Scott McLeod* engages in a compelling discussion about how schools can work to transform education in a way that can increase student motivation, critical thinking, and preparedness for the real-world… And why the post-pandemic era may be just the time to do it.
Host Bio: *Dr. Chris Balow* is the Chief Academic Officer at SchoolMint. Dr. Balow has a Ph.D in Educational Psychology and served for 33 years as an educator in various roles with focuses on literacy, mental health, and the behavioral and emotional growth of students. He has worked the last 6 years in the educational technology field to promote student success on a larger scale.