ChangED

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What if the most important people in your school system are the ones you rarely see? We sit down with Dr. Michael Heater—former teacher and principal, now an IU coordinator—to unpack how behind-the-scenes educators keep districts moving, support leaders under pressure, and build programs that make students want to show up. From realistic planning to social-emotional wellness, this c...

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What if the real danger of AI isn’t what it can do, but what we stop doing because of it? We sit down with licensed professional counselor, author, and retreat leader Joni Staaf Stanford to unpack how technology is reshaping attention, empathy, and everyday relationships—and how to build a practical antidote that restores depth, presence, and human connection.

Joni introduc...

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What if designing for everyone from the start could raise the floor without lowering the bar? We sit down with two veteran colleagues who live and breathe Universal Design for Learning and unpack how this framework transforms planning, teaching, and professional learning. Rather than chasing the perfect strategy, they show how UDL begins with a mindset: clarify the goal, anticipate ...

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What if joy—not drills—was the engine of math learning? We sit down with math leader Rob Bayer to unpack how students become “mathers” when classrooms center belonging, discourse, and sense-making. The conversation moves past slogans and straight into practice: diagnosing root causes behind “kids can’t add,” using manipulatives at every grade to surface thinking, and designing instr...

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Curiosity thrives when classrooms trade recipes for real experiences. We sit down with Kevin Murphy and Kaity Ferraro from Cheltenham to unpack how a district moves from “follow-the-steps” science to student-driven inquiry under STEELS—without burning teachers out. From the first messy pilot to a sustainable system, they show how small, intentional changes beat heroic sprints every ...

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What happens when a celebrated classroom teacher steps onto the policy stage and brings the kids with him? We sit down with Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year Leon Smith to trace the arc from daily bell schedules and ninth‑grade basketball practice to Capitol Hill meetings, op‑eds, and concrete fixes that help students and teachers thrive.

Leon teaches AP U.S. History, AP Afr...

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Most people never see the machinery that keeps Pennsylvania’s schools running. We pull back the curtain with Dr. Mark Leidy, Executive Director of PAIU, to reveal how Intermediate Units quietly connect state policy to classroom reality for 500 districts—and why that “quiet engine” was straining under the budget impasse that froze both state and federally routed funds.

We tr...

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Ever wondered why kindergartners bubble with questions while high schoolers barely raise their hands? This episode will explore phenomena-based learning.  We'll dive into how educators can reignite student curiosity by starting with observable events that naturally spark questions.

"Phenomena doesn't have to be phenomenal to be something," as Andrew Kuhn...

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Think banks have the toughest cyber problems? Our conversation with Shane and Tony from the MCIU tech team flips that assumption fast. K–12 is the most targeted sector in the U.S., and the reasons are both simple and sobering: sprawling device fleets, legacy systems, budget constraints, and a mission that demands access over friction.

The path forward is thoughtful defaults...

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A simple line reframed our whole approach to teaching: prepare students for their future, not our past. Sitting down with Jeff Remington from Penn State’s CSATS, we dig into what that looks like when classrooms connect directly to research, industry, and the realities of Pennsylvania’s evolving economy. Instead of one‑off PDs and “random acts of STEM‑ness,” we talk about sustained, ...

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What happens when we move beyond memorizing facts and formulas in science education? This conversation takes a deep dive into the transformative power of three-dimensional learning—a framework that balances knowing (disciplinary core ideas), thinking (cross-cutting concepts), and doing (science and engineering practices).

For generations, science education has overemphasize...

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How do you react when faced with dramatic change? When podcast host Andrew unveiled his freshly-shaven face after six years with a beard, his co-hosts' contrasting reactions—shock versus casual acceptance—perfectly mirrored how educators respond to implementing the new Steels science standards.

This lighthearted moment opens a thoughtful exploration of educational tran...

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The Change Ed journey has taken us to every continent on the planet, evolving from three Pennsylvania educators discussing science education into a global conversation reaching listeners worldwide. Season Two has been transformative, with download numbers growing exponentially and educators launching their own podcasts or revolutionizing professional development in their districts b...

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What happens when artificial intelligence stops being a buzzword and becomes an actual classroom partner? The possibilities are both exhilarating and terrifying. In our conversation with educational technology expert Dr. Brian Housand, we explore the transformative potential of AI in education when approached thoughtfully and strategically.

Most educators are stuck in two e...

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Dr. Demetrius Roberts, special consultant for STEM and computer science with the Pennsylvania Department of Education, joins us to share his remarkable educational journey and the powerful lessons it offers for today's educators. Growing up in Philadelphia's diverse urban landscape and attending a Career and Technical Education high school fundamentally shaped Dr. Roberts&...

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While most teachers believe they already implement student-centered practices, Eric Lech and Tracy Rains reveal that genuine student-centered learning requires a deeper philosophical shift beyond simple differentiation. This transformation creates systems where students set meaningful goals, monitor their progress, and develop lifelong learning skills—a crucial change given that Pen...

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Ever wondered how to make curriculum integration feel natural instead of forced? Meet Scott Oste and Katie Trach from Northampton Area School District, who have mastered what they playfully call "ropifying" - the art of weaving subjects together into a cohesive educational experience.

Their journey began in 2015, well before Pennsylvania adopted the STEELS standar...

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Have you ever wondered if there might be a better way to deliver professional learning than the traditional sit-and-get workshop model? The team from Whitehall Coplay School District wondered the same thing—and their solution has transformed how their teachers engage with professional development.

When Dave Stauffer, Andy Fehnel, and Tony Pangaio sat down to brainstorm new ...

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Ever wondered why the business world keeps lamenting graduates' lack of "soft skills"? The answer might lie in how disconnected our educational practices have become from the real-world demands facing our students.

Scott Oste, Curriculum Supervisor at Northampton Area School District, brings a refreshing perspective to this challenge. Having left teaching to ...