This week on The Good Life EDU Podcast, we explore how recent legislative support has paved the way for an elevated commitment to computer science education. Special guests Shaun Young, Computer Science and Technology Specialist from the Nebraska Department of Education, and Jeremy Keeshin, CEO of CodeHS, share insights on the new standards, available resources, and the future of computer science in Nebraska. Listen in to learn how these efforts are set to empower educators and heighten student interest and access to computer science.

To learn more about Computer Science in Nebraska, visit https://www.education.ne.gov/nce/cis/

To learn more about CodeHS, visit https://codehs.com/

To access the CodeHS’s Nebraska resources, go to https://codehs.com/states/NE

If you are interested in receiving educator training from CodeHS, contact hello@CodeHS.com

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

This week, we are joined by Dr. Larianne Polk who was recently named the ESUCC’s new Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Polk shares the context for and details about a piece of 2023 Nebraska legislation that has led to an opportunity for the ESUCC to develop and deliver statewide training on topics related to mental health and teacher support. Terri Haynes of ESU 13 and Jackie Ternus of ESU 7 also speak from their role as content developers on this important teacher training.

For more information, access our Behavior Intervention Training and Teacher Support Act flyer and related FAQs communication.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

This week, we welcome Danna Thomas, CEO and founder of the Happy Teacher Revolution, back to the show to chat about her new book “Happy Teacher Revolution” and all the collaboration, research, and learning that went into its development. Throughout the episode, Danna’s passionate advocacy for educator wellness is as contagious as her message for empowering teachers with strategies for claiming and sustaining joy. We are grateful for this opportunity to revisit the Happy Teacher Revolution and wish Danna the best as she begins her book tour across the US.

To learn more about the Happy Teacher Revolution, visit https://www.happyteacherrevolution.com/

To learn more about the book by the same title (which currently sits as the #1 New Release in Adult & Continuing Education), visit https://a.co/d/3zUTT2m

To listen to our previous podcast episode with Danna, visit https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-happy-teacher-revolution-supporting-educator/id1512974122?i=1000589397622

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

This week we revisit a conversation from the fall of 2022 that highlighted Get SET Nebraska’s efforts toward developing effective onboard support for new-to-the-profession Special Education teachers. Since then, Get SET Nebraska has grown in its reach and impact, and this episode brings together a team of educators from Elkhorn Public Schools to speak about the Get SET program and materials. Together with Get SET’s Project Manager Pam Brezenski, the Elkhorn team of Adrienne Kennedy, Cara Schrock, and Emma Jackson share their experiences as a part of this collaboration.

To learn more about Get SET Nebraska, visit https://getsetnebraska.org/

To listen to the previous episode about Get SET Nebraska, visit https://getsetnebraska.org/podcast-explores-get-set-nebraskas-support-of-special-education-teachers/

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

This episode shares the story of how the Accreditation Committee in Nebraska identified a need and creatively addressed the issue through extended collaborative efforts that resulted in a new interpretation of Rule 10 to better serve Nebraska schools. Together, Dr. Decua Jean-Baptiste (Director of Accreditation with NDE), Dr. Dan Schnoes (CEO of ESU 3), and the Accreditation Committee Chair and Superintendent of Ainsworth Community Schools, Dale Hafer provide what Nebraska school leaders need to know about this interpretation while also demonstrating the culture of cooperation and shared support between the NDE, ESUs, and Nebraska Districts.

To learn more, visit the NDE Accreditation page at https://www.education.ne.gov/apac/

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

This week, we are grateful to our guest Zac Chase, Digital Equity Impact Fellow with the US Department of Education’s Office of Educational Technology, for his time as he joins the pod to speak to the 2024 National Ed Tech Plan (NETP). In the episode, listeners can expect to learn about the context for and development of the NETP and its central tenets. While the conversation references some of the great work in US schools, the NETP includes 50+ exemplars from across the country that illustrate these efforts in action. To access those examples and the NETP, visit https://tech.ed.gov/netp/.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

This week, K.K. Neimann, National Director of District & Strategic Initiatives at World Savvy, joins us for an episode on education innovation and how World Savvy utilizes multi-year partnerships with schools and educators to help them create inclusive, adaptive, and future-ready learning environments. On the pod, we discuss global competencies, ideas for fostering teacher empowerment, and how to enhance our support of students as they develop the skills and dispositions they need to thrive in their community and careers.

To learn more about World Savvy, visit https://worldsavvy.org/

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

In this episode, Dani Potter (B-FIT Coordinator) and Cassie Houser (Behavior Specialist) of ESU 4 join us to share their commitment and work in support of students with behavior needs. Our conversation illustrates how Cassie and Dani’s roles differ but work in tandem to ensure that not only the student but also those supporting the student(s) have the strategies, communication, and input needed to have a positive impact.

To learn more about ESU 4, visit https://www.esu4.org/

To learn more from ESU 4’s Behavior Bites and Newsletter, visit: ESU 4 Special Education

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

This episode picks up the conversation from a previous episode that told the backstory behind the purchase and distribution of robotics solutions across K-12 schools in Nebraska. On the pod, Dr. Josh Snyder and Mr. Erik Emerson of Wahoo Public Schools share the story of the devices their district received and how they are introducing products such as Bee-Bots, Tello EDU drones, and the Tetrix Prime robot to students in Wahoo schools. We are also joined once again by Pitsco’s regional representative, Preston Fraizer, whose outstanding support both in-person and online has ensured easy onboarding for educators and implementation success statewide.

For more on the ESUCC+Pitsco Robotics purchase and related resources, visit https://resources.pitsco.com/ne-geer-up-program

Podcast: Play in new window | Download