ClassCast Podcast

ClassCast Podcast Ep.085 features Sonny Thadani, CEO & Co-Founder of Robin, discussing social-emotional learning, mindfulness, the value of personal/life coaching, and how we can serve students' and teachers' emotional needs as we strive to improve education.  Sonny initially found success as a realtor and business consultant, but a series of important personal experiences compelled him to shift paths and seek opportunities to support students (and teachers).  Initially, after forging relationships with families from Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT, Sonny became interested in social-emotional learning and supporting mental health; he then became a father and had a transformational ex...

ClassCast Podcast Ep.084 features Jeff Harris, President and Co-Founder of Xello, discussing college and career planning, supporting students' long-term goals, and the concept (and reality) of "future ready" students.  Jeff and host Ryan Tibbens discuss their own experiences with past versions of "career planning," why talking about and structuring long-term planning is more important than ever, and how services like Xello can serve students without over-burdening teachers and counselors. This discussion goes beyond shallow platitudes about being "future ready" and digs into how local communities and students' experiences shape their goals and options, how classical/liberal/traditional schools may n...

ClassCast Podcast Ep.083 features Jessica Kirkland, a high school English teacher in Loudoun County, Virginia (and Twitter superstar), talking shop and exchanging ideas about improving schools, building relationships, navigating the pandemic, and much more with host Ryan Tibbens. In this laidback, funny, yet insightful discussion, you'll hear Jess proclaim that she's "pro-nonsense," share her strategies for connecting with students, divulge her secret wish to indoctrinate students (with a love for trees), and much more. Part of what makes this discussion so refreshing is that Jess has nothing to promote, nothing to sell. She has amassed over 11,000 Twitter followers in...

ClassCast Podcast Ep.082 features host Ryan Tibbens reflecting on his experiences in an all-new distance learning program, challenges teachers faced in 2021, and how educators can move forward into 2022 with optimism and determination.

In many ways, distance learning represents one of the most common forms of innovation in schools today. Teachers and students must leverage technology, plan and perform with increased precision, and traditional schooling must be reimagined to fit 21st century tools and incredibly diverse settings. Students enroll in distance learning because they prefer the online format, have physical or mental health concerns, desire greater flexibility in...

ClassCast Podcast Ep.081 features Mr. Tyler Rablin, an instructional technology coach, high school English teacher, and anti-grading crusader in Washington, sharing his perspectives and research on grading and assessment with host Ryan Tibbens.  This is among the all-time best episodes of the ClassCast Podcast because Tyler offers insights and ideas that challenge conventional wisdom, that put students first, and that show listeners a path to better formal education.  By reforming grading, we can increase learning, boost confidence, improve culture, and help teachers to handle the burden of feedback.

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ClassCast Podcast Ep.080 features Doug Roberts, the founder and CEO of the Institute for Education Innovation (IEI), speaking with host Ryan Tibbens about empowering educators, supporting superintendents, and connecting innovative education entrepreneurs with the schools and students they want to serve. After starting his career as a history/social studies teacher, Doug filled a variety of roles before launching IEI, which is a unique organization designed to support superintendents. Doug has strong feelings about empowering educators; hiring, training, and trusting great teachers; and giving excellent educational vendors, large and small, a level playing field to compete for contracts in...

ClassCast Podcast Ep.079 features host Ryan Tibbens talking about the correlation between centralized decision-making and the surge of superintendent and school board criticisms nationwide. Over the last few years, we've seen politicians, parents, and even teachers at school board meetings speak out, shout out, and even get thrown out. The complaints are as varied as Critical Race Theory, mask mandates, diverse reading lists, opening 5-days per week, gender/pronoun/bathroom policies, schools named after Confederate generals, social media use, and beyond. The one thing all these issues have in common is where the decisions are made -- at the...

ClassCast Podcast Ep.078 features Kohila Sivas, the founder and lead coach at MathCodes, an innovative program designed to help students build their math skills, personal confidence, and executive functions. Kohila's amazing work builds on the idea that most students need more than just content help, so adults must be more than just tutors or teachers; instead, Kohila recommends serving as a "coach," one who works with the student, on the same team, to achieve mutual goals. In addition to her 22+ years in private tutoring and coaching, Kohila has worked as an advocate, teacher's assistant, teacher, and parent. Recently, she...

ClassCast Podcast Ep.077 features Grant Schafer, the Supervisor of Community Connections for Loudoun County Public Schools. Working closely with Career & Technical Education, Computer Science Experiential Learning, and a few other specialized programs in the school system, Grant strives to connect community resources with individual teachers, students, and classrooms to make school-based learning as authentic as possible. His hard work, power skills (soft skills), and ever-growing rolodex make him an asset to the whole community because he fosters relationships between local businesses, non-profits, and schools. Host Ryan Tibbens met Grant, a fellow JMU Duke, at the 2021 Loudoun 40 Under 40 celebration where...

ClassCast Podcast Ep.076 features Simon Tang, a former student of host Ryan Tibbens, sharing his thoughts on school improvement, student choice, dual enrollment programs, post-high school plans, Dick Wolf TV shows, and much, much more. Throughout his public school career, Simon distinguished himself from most students by serving as a technology support specialist/paraprofessional in the school, forming close bonds with faculty members, challenging the status quo, earning top grades and thousands of dollars in scholarships, and wearing a totally awesome pocket protector. Simon shares his student (and semi-staff) views on school improvement, joining the US Navy, and how...

Classcast Podcast Ep.075 features Cary Vipond and Kevin Cook, members of "The Cookout," a discussion group focusing on race relations and making positive change in the Loudoun County, Virginia community. Along with host Ryan Tibbens, they discuss the recent debates (and hysteria?) over critical race theory, equity training for school staff, anti-racism, and politics in public schools. Given Fox News' new obsession with Loudoun County Public Schools as well as the parent and political groups seeking to influence them, Cary, Kevin, and Ryan agreed it was time for reasonable people with first-hand experience in these schools and...

ClassCast Podcast Ep.074 features Al Kingsley -- CEO of NetSupport Inc., school leader & administrator in the United Kingdom, and author of the hit new book My Secret #EdTech Diary -- speaking with host Ryan Tibbens about his career in educational technology, what he's learned by leading his own schools, how the pandemic has changed education, why personal reflection is so important, why #EdTech really is for everyone, and more. Al's book "gives an insider's view of education technology historically and for the post-pandemic future." With a career in technology that spans over three decades, and with experiences launching and...

ClassCast Podcast Ep.073 -- Host Ryan Tibbens ruminates on how efforts to standardize, scale, and reproduce great teaching ultimately lead to dummy-proofing, to treating teachers like dummies who need scripts and Choose-Your-Own-Adventure styled lesson plans. This solo talk was recorded in response to Ep.072, the #EduPodlooza Innovation Roundtable, in which participants addressed concerns with micromanagement, groupthink, mass appeal, and more. If you believe that great schooling requires great teaching, or if you believe that the key to improving education is to improve teacher quality, this talk is for you. National teacher shortage? The answer is here. Do teachers want...

Episode 072, the first of Season 3, features a great segment from the "Innovation Roundtable," the first group discussion from the 1st annual #Edupodlooza, an all-day education-podcast marathon in which teachers from around the world talked about improving schools, podcasting, and hot topics, with a few games and creative elements mixed in.  The guys over at the Unprofessional Development Podcast hosted the event and did amazing work all day.  The full innovation discussion will be available at 8pm on 7/25 at ClassCastPodcast.com and on YouTube so that you can hear what innovative ideas (and hilarious exchanges) preceded this wrap-up, bu...

ClassCast Podcast Ep.071, the FINAL episode of Season 2, features college professor, education enthusiast, and author Christina (Tina) Groeger, whose new book -- The Education Trap: Schools and the Remaking of Inequality.  Tina and host Ryan Tibbens discuss school's limited ability to affect social inequality, how quality education relates to social mobility, project-based learning, unschooling, and much, much more. Tina is a professor at Lake Forest College, a graduate of Harvard University, and a thoughtful, sincere student of American education and its social impacts. If you are interested in equality/inequality, opportunity, the American Dream, or improving our education system, th...

ClassCast Podcast Ep.070 features intervention specialist, special education teacher, and author Melinda Arnost discussing inclusion, social-emotional learning, differentiation, and how good relationships combine with common sense to create functional classrooms and effective teachers.  Melinda recently published her first book, Empowering Inclusion: The Tool Teachers Need to Help All Students Succeed. In this talk with host Ryan Tibbens, Melinda shares tips for team-teaching, demands consistent scheduling, explains how relationships enable effective differentiation, talks about her great new book, and more. If you have any interest in special education, social-emotional learning, inclusion, differentiation, team-teaching, or making sure that all students are l...

ClassCast Podcast Ep.069 features host Ryan Tibbens reflecting on the 2020-2021 school year, pandemic-related changes in schools, 4-day work weeks, and a HUGE career shift -- to 100% virtual instruction. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected everyone differently, but one thing is certain -- it is has affected everyone.  Tibbens has experienced loss in his family, a massive shift at work, and a sea-change in education beliefs. This quick solo talk starts with a brief promo of #Edupodlooza (check it out June 27) and quickly gets into teachers' experiences in 2020-2021. A deep reflection on a pandemic mantra -- "If not now, w...

EP.068 -- CHRIS RADER -- HIGHER ED ABROAD, STEM, & MAKING HIGH SCHOOL MORE VALUABLE5/24/20210 Comments ClassCast Podcast Ep.068 features Chris Rader, a former student of host Ryan Tibbens, sharing his experiences and perspectives on education and how to better serve students.  Since graduating from high school in 2012, Chris has found immense success in the fields of chemistry and material science at Virginia Tech and now as a Ph.D. student the Adolphe Merkle Institute in Switzerland. Aside from groundbreaking work with cellulose and creating environmentally friendly packaging, Chris also has some great ideas about how we can improve K12 e...

ClassCast Podcast Ep.067 features Peter Hubbell, founder & CEO of Apply : you, discussing personal branding, storytelling, improving education, and helping recent college graduates to secure their first jobs through innovative interviewing techniques.  Apply : you runs a series of practical workshops that apply Madison Avenue branding and storytelling techniques to help graduates market their way to their first job in any career. Peter forged an admirable career in advertising before shifting his focus to helping young people secure gainful employment. He shares his views on educating "the whole child," the importance of athletics, the value of boarding schools, and more. 

ClassCast Podcast Ep.066 features Dr. Casey Jakubowski, a professor, author, and teacher from upstate New York sharing his views on education in the United States, our need for greater civic education and engagement, as well as how we can "#ChangeTheNarrative" about our school system's successes and failures. Casey has worked in K12 and higher ed., in humanities and STEM, in the classroom and in leadership roles. Through his long and varied career, he has gained unique perspectives on what our schools do, how they function, and what we can do to improve how we serve students and communities. From...

ClassCast Podcast Ep.065 features Dr. Sam Fecich, an education professor, author, speaker, and podcaster who works with pre-service teachers. She and host Ryan Tibbens discuss teacher preparation, how we can attract and train the best talent, why pedagogy and content both matter, and more. Sam's enthusiasm is infectious, so you're sure to find this episode both engaging and enlightening. Worried about the national teacher shortage? We cover it. Wondering how to help talented young people get into education? We cover that too.

In addition to authoring two books designed to help pre-service and new teachers, Sam produces...

ClassCast Podcast Ep.064 features host Ryan Tibbens sharing his thoughts on school choice while concluding a five episode mini-series on school choice. After engaging, informative discussions with Citizen Stewart (pro-school choice), Jennifer Berkshire (pro-public school), Neal McCluskey (pro-school choice, and Jon Hale (pro-public school), Tibbens tries to connect the dots, share the learning, and make meaningful predictions about the future of school in the United States. Over half the episode focuses on the positive aspects of school choice -- freedom, specialization, individuality, and more -- but in the final 20 minutes, Tibbens explores the potential problems, including decreased community control...

ClassCast Podcast Ep.063 features education historian, professor at the University of Illinois, and author Jon Hale discussing school choice, its dark history, and the problems it may spawn in the future. Much of Jon's work focuses on past school choice movements and Civil Rights era freedom schools; he makes invaluable contributions to the on-going ClassCast discussion of school choice and freedom by provide clear historical context and common sense predictions about what the future may hold. Jon's upcoming book, The Choice We Face: How Segregation, Race, and Power Have Shaped America's Most Controversial Education Reform Movement, addresses the same...

ClassCast Podcast Ep.062 features Neal McCluskey PhD, the Director of the Center for Educational Freedom at the Cato Institute, discussing school choice, individual liberty, and the future of education with host Ryan Tibbens. Neal has spent most of his career studying public policy with a focus on education; he is a leader in the national school choice conversation, has written and edited three books on the subject, and explains his beliefs and goals through a lens of respect for individuals and their liberty. In this conversation, Neal explains how school choice will (and won't) affect community bonding, civil rights...

ClassCast Podcast Ep.061 features Jennifer Berkshire, an education journalist, podcaster, and co-author of a great new book about school choice,  A Wolf at the Schoolhouse Door. She and host Ryan Tibbens discuss school choice, racial and economic inequality, the politics behind the choice movement, and problems that school choice is likely to cause. Throughout the discussion, Jennifer shares her own experience being bused across town to a public school, her concerns about how school choice may exacerbate current inequalities, and even asks a few questions of the host.  This is the second installment of the ClassCast Podcast School Choice Mi...

ClassCast Podcast Ep.060 features Chris "Citizen" Stewart discussing school choice, educational opportunity, dismantling oppressive systems, and empowering individuals with host Ryan Tibbens. Citizen Stewart is CEO of the Brightbeam Network, founder of Citizen.Education, host of the UnPublic Podcast, co-host of the 8 Black Hands Podcast, a former school board member, father of five, and school choice advocate.  In this episode, we discuss the value of choice, the significance of freedom for all citizens, why school choice appeals to many poor and minority families, and how great education should be tailored to individuals rather than aggregates. Stewart shares observations on s...

ClassCast Podcast Ep.059 features host Ryan Tibbens exploring the concept of "learning loss," how it's being applied during the COVID-19 pandemic, and why most of these discussions are biased, flawed, and misleading. If you pay attention to education-related news, then you know that politicians, state education boards, testing companies, university researchers, school choice advocates, and even some local school leaders have been ranting about "learning loss" for months. But you may not have considered how narrow and limited that discussion has been.  Are students really 3-6 months behind? Are the disparities between racial and socioeconomic groups insurmountable? If we r...

ClassCast Podcast Ep.058 features Iman Ghanizada, aka "The Certs Guy," a young star at Google, newly published author, and former student of host Ryan Tibbens. Iman shares ideas about his new book, Google Cloud Certified Professional Cloud Architect: All in One Exam Guide, about how technology can improve education, and how people must maintain strong morals and respect if they truly want to live good lives and serve others. Tibbens taught Iman in 9th grade English during his first year as a teacher, so the episode begins with a little catching up but quickly moves on to focus on...

ClassCast Podcast Ep.057 features host Ryan Tibbens examining the motivations behind returning to in-person schooling this spring. Many community members, particularly teachers, have been shocked by how rapidly local officials have shifted their positions on distance vs hybrid options this winter. What people often fail to realize is that the return to school is not motivated by infection rates, a few loud parents at school board meetings, or even the quality of education. Rather, there are financial and political interests at play, and government officials -- local, state, and federal -- see the writing on the wall. 

D...

ClassCast Podcast Ep.056 features teacher, innovator, author, lawyer, and speaker Rachelle Dene Poth discussing virtual reality and augmented reality in the classroom, accessing VR hardware for students, and preparing students and teachers alike for the technology of tomorrow. After speaking with Taylor Freeman, an AR/VR industry leader and Forbes 30 Under 30 winner, in ClassCast Podcast Ep.046, host Ryan Tibbens made exploration of VR in education a top priority for future podcasts. Crowdsourcing ideas for future interviews led to Rachelle, a talented foreign language and STEAM teacher who has presented at ISTE, ASCD, and professional development events and conferences across...

ClassCast Podcast Ep.055 features Clement Townsend, the owner/operator of Broadcasting Career Mentor and VideoJournalismPro.com. Clement shares his views on improving education through project-based learning (PBL), particularly in regard to teaching students how to plan, write, record, and edit video projects that amplify their voices, build foundational academic skills, and prepare them for 21st century jobs. Prior to launching his own education company, Clement Townsend was a popular and successful sports journalist who broadcast in Texas, Alabama, Virginia, and Chicago, Illinois. Clement covered the Super Bowl, NBA All-Star Game, and several NCAA football national championship games. Now, he...

ClassCast Podcast Ep.054 features host Ryan Tibbens making unexpected connections between big ideas, from the Capitol attack on January 6 to grading policies to student scheduling to ending the factory model of public education. It sounds like a stretch, but trust me: It's all connected.  If you've ever thought teachers should make time for "teachable moments" in class, or if you want to end "factory" or "industrial" schooling, then there's a lot to unpack in this content-rich 29 minutes. Buckle up!

Remember: you can listen to the ClassCast Podcast at www.ClassCastPodcast.com, on YouTube, and on all major s...

ClassCast Podcast Ep.053 features Dr. Matthew Rhoads, a leader in edtech, blended learning, data utilization, and pandemic responses; he's also the author of Navigating the Toggled Term: Preparing Secondary Education for Navigating Fall 2020 and Beyond.  Matt shares insights into how teachers can leverage technology to adapt to ever-changing pandemic scenarios while also preparing themselves and their students for the future of education. From "moneyballing" school to "navigating the toggled term," from pandemic adjustments to the future of distance learning, this episode connects current contexts to on-going innovations in ways that will help listeners understand the effects on every student a...

This quick highlight clip from ClassCast Podcast Ep.053 features Dr. Matthew Rhoads offering his thoughts on the concurrent hybrid and HyFlex models being implemented in some schools across the country. Dr. Rhoads is the author of Navigating the Toggled Term: Preparing Secondary Education for Navigating Fall 2020 and Beyond and has a second book dealing with blended learning, ed. tech., and pandemic responses that will be available later in 2021.  Near the end of the full episode, Matt offered up his views on concurrent hybrid school. Every student, parent, teacher, and administrator involved in a concurrent hybrid or HyFlex model should c...

Episode 052 of the ClassCast Podcast features Sandy Sullivan, president of the Loudoun Education Association (LEA), speaking with host Ryan Tibbens about the LEA, its short and long term goals, collective bargaining in Virginia, pandemic safety measures, community outreach, and more.  This is Sandy's second (non-consecutive) term as LEA president; otherwise, she has spent her career teaching early elementary education in Loudoun and Montgomery (MD) counties. In this conversation, she explains the changes in Virginia's collective bargaining laws, the need for union representation, how education associations and unions function, as well as what is best for teachers and students. Whether y...

2020 has been a special year in many ways, most of them bad.  But for the ClassCast Podcast, 2020 was a year of learning, development, and growth. These discussions about improving education reached thousands of listeners spread across six continents.  In 38 episodes this calendar year, I spoke with passionate students, innovative teachers, reflective administrators, industry-leading CEOs, elected officials -- all kinds of smart, purposeful people who are challenging the status quo of education in the United States and abroad.

​This special episode offers a quick reflection on ClassCast Podcasts from 2020, goals for 2021, and an overview of all the content gene...

ClassCast Podcast Ep.051 features Devin Siebold, America's favorite teacher-comedian, sharing his thoughts on education, school improvement, and why school can be so hilarious (and so tragic). Devin discusses his beginnings in comedy, his classroom experiences, and his ever-growing fanbase (up to 10 MILLION views per month).  If you've ever laughed at Devin's YouTube videos (what teacher hasn't?) and wondered what kind of teacher makes those videos, or wondered how his administrators react, this episode will make it all clear.  Throughout this conversation, Devin shares his personal career goals, sincere hopes for school improvement, and insights into comedy as an art fo...

ClassCast Podcast Ep.050 features host Ryan Tibbens discussing the value of and need for snow days, despite our ability to conduct classes online.  The shortest episode to date, just 10 minutes, this passionate defense of snow day school cancellations addresses parent concerns like falling behind, seat time, screen time, and learning as well as social-emotional learning, whole child development, and the sanctity of of snow days in American culture.  Before you criticize the decisions to close schools for snow, or before you engage with someone who opposes snow days, listen to this episode, consider your values, and remember this timeless wi...

ClassCast Podcast Ep.049 features innovator, writer, and former principal Craig Randall sharing his ideas about improving teacher observation and evaluation processes to increase the quality of teaching and of school in general. Craig is the creator and author of Trust-Based Observations, a new framework for evaluating teachers while encouraging innovation, risk-taking, and growth. His system is, as the name indicates, based on building a trusting, growth-focused relationship between teachers and evaluators; it is the culmination of a long, successful career teaching, counseling, coaching, and administrating in schools on four continents.  This episode offers food for thought AND practical solutions f...

ClassCast Podcast Episode 048 features host Ryan Tibbens sharing insights and advice on reserving judgment (and passing it), building patience, and keeping an open mind.  As a teacher, he has developed a deeper appreciation for patience, optimism, and open-mindedness than most people (and certainly more than he had earlier in life); this quick solo episode includes ideas to help teachers maintain strong relationships with students and coworkers as well as advice to help families and friends overcome personal, political, and moral differences as we head into the holiday season.  Tibbens uses a line from F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic novel The Gr...