ClassCast Podcast

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 ser...

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 conn...

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 precis...

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 listener...

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 uni...

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, ...

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 wi...

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 h...

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 memb...

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 wi...

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...

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 appe...

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 ...

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 ...

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 T...

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 qui...

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 ...

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 caree...

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. Thr...