System-level leaders are charged with evaluating instructional quality and nurturing an environment where teachers can flourish in their careers. But those skills don’t come intuitively: they must be learned. In this episode of The Best of Us, Jeremy and Jen Cheatham delve into Jen's course "Leaders of Learning" at the Harvard Graduate School of Ed…

In this episode of "The Best of Us," we talk with National Teacher of the Year Missy Testerman, a master educator who gives us a look at teacher professional learning from the classroom perspective. Missy gives us a ground-level look at what makes for excellent teacher PD, sharing insights and telling stories of how school leadership can become cou…

On this episode of The Best of Us, we’re honored to talk with Dr. Thomas Guskey, author of Instructional Feedback: The Power, the Promise, the Practice and nationally-renowned expert on education measurement and evaluation. Dr. Guskey’s evaluation framework is an adapted version of the Kirkpatrick four-level model of evaluation used in business fie…

In this episode of The Best of Us, we’re joined by Paola Deliz Felix Encarnación, Vice President of the National Network for School Improvement at City Year and author of “The Six Principles to Foster Voice and Belonging.” Paola walks us through the ins and outs of City Year’s partnership program, which works with schools on challenges to student s…

In this episode of The Best of Us, we discuss transformational coaching as a key lever for momentum with all-star coach Elena Aguilar. Elena coaches us through exploring beliefs and strategies, connecting with the purpose of the work, and considering perspectives of those across your school district or organization. She also provides practical guid…

In this episode of The Best of Us, principals Jennifer Martin and Jamie Jordan share how they’ve supported teacher professional learning through their roles as building leaders. They discuss practical strategies for empowering teachers through alignment and autonomy, the importance of differentiating professional learning for teacher needs, and pro…

We discuss "An Effective Workforce is a Diverse Workforce" with co-authors Sharif El-Mekki and Lisa Lachlan. These two scholars’ work centers on the critical need for diversity in K-12 and practical ways for education leaders to tackle the systemic issues impacting it. The conversation covers the historical context of DEI, the impact of educator sh…

In this episode of The Best of Us, building principals Christy Whatley and Paul Offill discuss school leadership strategy for professional learning and teacher support. They give us the nitty-gritty on implementing a CHAMPS program district-wide, plus tips for consistent follow-through and using data to demonstrate the program's effectiveness. Chri…

In this episode of The Best of Us, we talk with Dr. Magdalena Ganias of Worcester Public Schools about concrete strategies to set up PD efforts for success. As Worcester’s Manager of Curriculum & Professional Learning, Magdalena is no stranger to the challenge of balancing multiple support structures like PLCs, coaching, and workshops without overw…

In this episode of The Best of Us, we’re joined by Dr. Dan Goldhaber, director of University of Washington’s Center for Education Data & Research and AIR’s Center for Analysis of Longitudinal Data in Education Research. Dan takes us through the hard data on predicting teacher and school success, patterns of educator improvement, and the difference …

In this episode of The Best of Us, we sit down with Dr. Kevin McGowan, Superintendent of Brighton Central School District and longest-tenured school leader in the country. Our conversation covers the length and breadth of Kevin’s leadership, from addressing graduation rate disparities to tailored teacher PD and beyond. We also dig into the ins and …

In this episode of The Best of Us,we sit down with Dr. Alyson Lavigne and Dr. Tim Ford to cover the wide world of teacher evaluation. These two instructional leadership researchers share a wealth of knowledge about evaluation’s past, present and future, from questions of teacher motivation to the impact of Race to the Top and beyond. Research shows…

In this episode of The Best of Us, we talk with Dr. Tequilla Brownie, CEO of The New Teacher Project, about ways to understand and address the teacher shortage as a workforce issue. Public school systems are usually among the top employers of any given town or city, yet it’s often expected for K-12 to solve its own workforce issues. Tequilla points…

In this episode of The Best of Us, we talk with education researcher and author Dr. Peter DeWitt about research-backed concepts and strategies to make professional learning better. We cover: Metacognition: teaching learners to think about their own thinking De-implementation: abandoning low-value practices to make room for impactful work Reciprocal…

In this episode of The Best of Us, we talk with Kaya Henderson, former Chancellor of DC Public Schools, about the philosophy and tactics behind the district’s long-term plan for recruiting and retaining exceptional educators. Kaya highlights the all-too-frequent administrative disconnect between teachers' needs and the professional development they…

In this episode of The Best of Us, Center for Black Educator Development (CBED) founder Sharif El-Mekki talks us through rebuilding the Black teacher pipeline by focusing on the teachers of tomorrow: today’s middle and high school students. The CBED focuses on advocating for policies that promote diversity, providing professional learning opportuni…

In this episode of The Best of Us, Surge Institute founder Carmita Semaan takes us through the ins and outs of investing in Black, brown, and Asian talent across the education ecosystem. Carmita draws a clear line between leadership investments and exponential growth in access and opportunities for young people. She also discusses the key differenc…

It’s inarguable that teachers are experts on what their students need. So how can school administrators leverage that expertise to make professional learning collaborative rather than top-down? In this episode of The Best of Us, we speak with Matt Griesinger, Assistant Principal of Northwest Education Services Career Tech and author of the recent a…

86% of teachers (and 80% of parents) believe that climate science needs to be taught in schools, yet fewer than 50% of teachers do — and less than one-quarter have received any professional training on climate change or how to teach it. Stephanie Sisk-Hilton, Elementary Education professor at San Francisco State University, hopes to change that. Ho…

Heading into fall 2022, nearly 7% of teaching positions in North Dakota were unfilled. Between attracting young talent and retaining career professionals, a teacher shortage crisis in a rural state can be particularly challenging — but North Dakota's Department of Public Instruction (NDDPI) found a way. In this episode of the Best of Us, we speak w…

Internationally renowed education consultant Katie Novak works across the world to help education systems incorporate Universal Design for Learning (UDL) so that students are better supported and teachers have more balance. In this episode of The Best of Us, Katie shares ways in which educators can apply UDL to professional learning, and how instru…

In 2021, Chancellor of DC Public Schools Lewis Ferebee identified sustainable leadership pipelines as a critical challenge to the district’s operations. DCPS’s teacher-leaders, assistant principals, and principals were working hard, but needed significant extra coaching to execute that work and stay in the profession. That’s when Ferrebee decided t…

In this episode of The Best Of Us, we sat down with Dr. Karen Demoss, Executive Director of Prepared To Teach. We started out discussing the barriers to high quality teacher preparation, the misconceptions in understanding student work, and the importance of seeing students struggle via local teacher preparation programs rather than just thinking a…

How can school leaders demonstrate their belief in their teachers? What support do educators need to feel good in the day-to-day, and stay in the profession? What assumptions must change for leaders to provide effective professional learning? How can educators use their time more effectively to drive towards better performance and equity for all st…

How do you align strategy, activities and reporting for over 100 coaches across 89 schools? Where do principals fit into the success of a district-wide coaching program? How do you evaluate coaching’s impact year over year? What does a strong pipeline of instructional coach candidates look like? What are the pros and cons of instructional coaching …

What is the impact of early-career support on overall teacher retention? What considerations go into pairing veteran mentors with new-to-the-classroom mentees? How do great teacher-mentors bring out the best in their colleagues? Which supports do new teachers value most? What are the indicators that an induction program is working? We explore these…

Eda Aguilar and James Costa, Clubhouse Archives founder, share their NFT journeys, their dream collaborations, their hot takes on how the Web3 space could be improved, and their vision for the future of the blockchain. ▶️ Eyes of Style with James Costa of Clubhouse Archives NFT [00:07:27] Eda’s and James’ introductions. [00:10:37] What brought Eda …

Eda Aguilar goes one-on-one with Fontini Kostouli, jewelry designer and founder of Aelia Selection, to talk about her sources of creativity, her brand, how she incorporates Greek culture in her designs, and her optimism in dipping her toes in Web3. ▶️ The Art of Jewelry Making with Fontini Kostouli, Accessory Designer from Greece [00:13:47] Fontini…

How has the role of the instructional coach changed in the last couple of years? What can we learn from thinking about the concept of task conflict vs. personal conflict? What can instructional coaches in the United States learn from coaches in other countries? How do we create an environment that promotes learning and not control? How do we change…

Eda Aguilar and Talia Zoref welcome Michelle McCormack, the Founder and Creative Director of Fierce Studios, and go in-depth on the need for a decentralized platform for NFT holders, the potential of the metaverse in education and more immersive interactions, and the call for seamless wearables. ▶️ Community Platforms, Education, and the Future of …

Eda Aguilar gathers four of the biggest musicians who are spreading their gifts in Web3. Listen as Rae Isla, Violetta Zironi, Sammy Arriaga, and the Crypto Therapist share their experiences and how the blockchain opens brighter opportunities for aspiring singer-songwriters. ▶️ Eyes of Fashion Music Spaces with Rae Isla, Violetta Zironi, Sammy Arria…

Why is it important to engage school-based educators in solving the problems they face? How do we honor the expertise of our teachers, and shift the mindset from professional learning as something done to people to a shared responsibility? What are the obstacles we need to overcome to elevate school-based professional learning? We discuss these que…

With his unique expertise in history and art through the eyes of fashion, Joseph Da’Ponte stays inspired by his Puerto Rican roots and works to preserve and conserve the artistic talents and creative pieces of his people and the newer generations to come. ▶️ Eyes of Style with Joseph Da'Ponte [00:04:58] How Joseph discovered his love for fashion an…

Data shows that women open digital wallets 100% of the time when Web3 piques their interest. Heather Rae Doyle started out buying NFTs without any reliable sources to learn from, especially for women. With CoinQueens, she sets out to change the Web3 landscape to be more accessible, welcoming, and women-friendly. ▶️ Women in Web3 & Beyond with Heath…

Empowering Women Through Entrepreneurship with Estrat Karine Eve, Director and Founder, Amal Foundation Working in the slums of Dhaka completely changed Estrat Karine Eve’s life and motivated her to create the Amal Foundation, an organization that aims to protect and empower women through education and skill-building. Humanitarian work isn’t just a…

Merging the Old & New in Art with Lisa Thon Fashion designer and teacher Lisa Thon knows too well the struggles that beginner artists experience as they work to master their craft and break out into the scene. This is why she works to educate young designers and help them discover their styles and passions. Listen in as she shares her advice and in…

Strategy & PR with Eda Aguilar & Jen Rosa Lopez Strategic marketing consultant Jen Rosa Lopez has taken every opportunity from different fields to get to where she is now. In this episode, she shares with us her advice and insights on the differences between marketing smaller brands vs. bigger companies, what to do for visibility, her dream designe…

Eyes of Fashion Town Hall with Eda Aguilar A promising six months it has been for Eyes of Fashion – partnerships, events, collaborations, and new products galore! Eda Aguilar, joined by founder Talia Zoref, shares exciting news on what the Eyes of Fashion team have been up to and future plans for everyone in the community. ▶️ The First Eyes of Fash…

NFTs and Web3 with Eda Aguilar Welcome to Eyes of Fashion Podcast! This is a safe, creative, and welcoming space for artists, creators, and strong, empowered individuals looking to dip their toes into NFTs. This episode is a first of a series of educational videos that you and your friends can use to learn more about NFTs and fashion. So what are y…

Missed this year’s Haute Couture Week? Itching to know the latest in fashion and NFTs? In this episode, Talia, Eda, and Nathan of the Twitter page, FashionweekNYC, give you everything you need to know. You are in for a treat, from the emerging trend of pink-laden “Barbie core” to metallic, sheer finishes reminiscent of a 3D metaverse to brands crea…

Creative mom, and NFT curator Nicole Yap started 8SIAN after seeing the lack of women and Asian representation in the amazing world of Web3. Now she pursues uplifting the minority and putting them on a pedestal for the metaverse to see. If you’re a woman looking to dip your toes in NFTs, all it takes is a curious mind and the courage to ask. ▶️ Why…

Transformation coach Elena Visionary guides women in their creativity, beauty, and power in our chaotic world. Demonstrating it through her practice, Elena believes how crucial it is for us to ground ourselves, reconnect with our truth and unique purpose, and discover what it actually feels to be in our highest vibrations. She imparts her tips and …

Founder of EDALOU Paris, Eyes of Fashion Chief Fashion Officer, and NFT curator Eda Aguilar calls out to women all over the world to join the ever-growing community of artists, creators, and inspired individuals on the quest for innovation and team support in the NFT space. Staying true to her brand’s mantra “Rock, Dance & Love” and her advocacy fo…

A brief summary of the impact social media and human interaction.