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

Dr. Paul Darvasi is back for his annual episode on all things serious play and learning! In this episode, Paul explains his new role as the Executive Director of the Serious Play Conference and how innovation so often comes from utilizing ideas and techniques from one domain in a new or different context. We also delve into educators as learning experience designers, and how viewing an educator’s work from that lens has been transformative to his work with teachers and with his company, Gold Bug Interactive.

To learn more about the Serious Play Conference, visit https://seriousplayconf.com/

To learn more about Gold Bug Interactive, visit https://www.goldbuginteractive.com/

Paul recommends James Paul Gee’s What Video Games Have to Teach Us About Learning and Literacy

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

In this episode, Superintendent Brian Rottinghaus, 4th Grade teacher Aeden Ghyra, and 5th Grade teacher Hadley Sejkora share Pawnee City School’s transformative approach to math education. Together with Tara Gossman of ESU 4, this great collection of educators detail the implementation and impact of Eureka Math, highlighting how it has not only accelerated learning but also enhanced students’ understanding and retention of math concepts. This group, with the support of NDE and Instruction Partners, illustrates how coherence led to a new standard for educational excellence in math in Pawnee City.

Visit the Pawnee City Public Schools Site: https://www.pawneecityschool.com/

Visit the Nebraska Dept of Education’s Math Page: https://www.education.ne.gov/math/

Visit the Eureka Math site: https://greatminds.org/math/eurekamath

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

In this episode, Dr. Mike Dulaney and Kyle McGowan of the Nebraska Council of School Administrators and Dr. John Skretta, Administrator of ESU 6, discuss several education-related bills that will be heard during this year’s legislative session in Nebraska. Together, these leaders and education advocates provide context and details that are sure to support anyone interested in learning more about the prominent topics and themes in education in our state.

To learn more about NCSA, visit: News Stories | Nebraska Council of School Administrators (NCSA)

To stay up to date on the 2024 Legislative Session, visit: Nebraska Legislature – Home

To watch Nebraska’s Legislative Session live, visit: Watch Live | Nebraska Public Media

Podcast: Play in new window | Download