About: The VPA Podcast was started in the winter of 2019. Original artwork by Montpelier High School Student-Class of 2022, Lili Ecklund Gustavson. Production and editing by Mallori Longevin and music title, Fate, by FreeBeats.io. Our hosts are Mike McRaith and/or Lauren Thomas of the VPA. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
In this episode we hear from the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) Executive Director, Dr. Earl Franks. I was joined by the VPA’s assistant executive director, Erica McLaughlin Dr. Franks is a veteran association executive and advocate for public education and school leadership with over three decades of pre-K–12 education experience. In his…
In this episode, we talk with Glennys Sánchez and Leah Tuckman of the Great Schools Partnership. We talk about the research and reports that have been conducted the past few years in regards to the needs for diversifying the educator workforce in New England including the Call to Action for Increasing the Racial, Ethnic, and…
Part 2, Vermont: Diversifying the Educator Workforce Series, with Mikaela Simms Mikaela Simms has been working as the Diversity Coordinator for the Windham Southeast Supervisory Union for more than a decade. She is the co-director of the Spark Teacher Education Institute, and has been on the planning team for the VPA’s Equity Practitioner’s Network since…
Part 1 Vermont: Diversifying the Educator Workforce Series with Lashawn Whitmore-Sells In Part 1, Mike talks with Lashawn Whitmore-Sells. Lashawn has been a teacher and school leader of color in Vermont since 1992. She currently works in the Champlain Valley School District as a Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) coach in Shelburne Community School. In…
Ronn Nozoe is a lifelong educator and the Chief Executive Officer of NASSP, an organization dedicated to transforming education through school leadership. Nozoe previously served as associate executive director and interim executive director at ASCD where he led the development of their Whole Child Network and Activate, an online professional development library of resources. Prior…
Rob Miller is a master’s Crossfit athlete, father of two and four-time cancer survivor. He grew up in South Africa playing any sport he could. His love of sports helps drive him in his career and the constant pursuit of his goals. We talked about athletes making great employees and how he uses many of…
Mike Tromello is a man who wears many hats. When I first met him, he was the strength and conditioning coach for Harvard Westlake and assisted with their water polo team, whilst creating an incredible gym. Mike is in a constant state of growth and personal development. He coaches top CrossFit and Hydrox athletes but…
In this episode, Mike talks with celebrated psychologist and educator, Dr. Wendi Williams. Dr. Williams’ career spans two decades and features important research and writing, recently becoming Provost at Fielding Graduate University, previously as the Dean of the School of Education for Mills College, and much more. In her words, she “has committed her life’s…
In this episode we talk with filmmaker and primary care physician, Delaney Ruston. Delaney is most well known for her films, Screenagers, and Screenagers–The Next Chapter. These films have been screened widely, aired on PBS, and were at the forefront of advocacy campaigns, including with the World Health Organization. For her work in using films…
On this episode of Sideline Conversations we spoke with Katie Tromello. Katie is a licensed therapist in Southern California who works with student-athletes. As a former professional athlete, she utilizes her skills and athletic qualities in her professional life. We dug into the ideas of being perfect and how being your authentic self can be…
Introducing Sideline Conversations: a podcast for those that are interested in athletics and sport. We’re hoping to connect with those who were athletes, are athletes or work with athletes, to build some connection between what athletes go through and how it connects to their life and their career. We’re looking to see how athletics connects…
In this episode, we talk with Bob Johnson, Associate Executive Director at the Vermont Principals’ Association. We had the chance to talk to Bob on his last day at the office before retirement. Bob has worked for the VPA for the past 19 years. We hear about his early career, how the job functions and…
In this episode we spoke with Alin Bennett of education reimagined. Alin is Education Reimagined’s Vice President of Practice and Field Advancement. He is a staunch advocate for national school transformation and creating an equitable education system. His previous work has included supporting curriculum development, leading advisories, and leading schools in ways that continuously advanced…
In this episode, we speak with Joe Truss of Truss Leadership. Joe will be a speaker and stand presenter at 2022 leadership academy. Joe is committed to dismantling white supremacy culture in schools. He is a father of 3 children and a husband of a High School History Teacher. He brings 18 years of education…
In this episode, we speak with Sandra Nagy, who leads the Education Practice at Future Design School, building strong academic partnerships with school leaders that help to drive their strategic priorities through consulting support, professional development and efficacious curriculum resources. We talk with Sandra about the premise of the school, their Future of Education Report,…
We talk with Laurel Butler of the VT Small Business Development Center, Tammie-Jo Dickinson Champlain Valley Union High School Business Teacher, and Gwen Pokalo of the Vermont Center for Women and Enterprise about the importance of developing entrepreneurial skills and what we can do to increase access to business development for underserved Vermont populations. Related…
In this episode, we talk with UVM’s Dr. Belliveau and educator, Kathy Lara about all that can be learned when you are cooking to learn, not just learning to cook–in the course, “Democracy in the Kitchen, John Dewey’s Education Through Cooking and Eating” Learn more at: go.uvm.edu/johndeweykitchen Facebook Twitter Print Friendly LinkedIn
(September 9, 2020) On this episode of the VPA podcast Mike spoke with Sarah Pickering. Sarah is the 2020 National Association of Secondary Schools Vermont Robert Pierce High School Principal of the year. She is the principal of Arlington Memorial High School in Arlington. Ms. Pickering just began her third year at Arlington and previously…
(September 3, 2020) On this episode of the VPA podcast Mike spoke with Stacy Rice. Stacy is the 2020 John Winton Vermont Middle Level Principal of the year. She was the principal of Burke Town School in West Burke. At the beginning of the 2020 – 2021 school year, she took on the roll of…
(May 14, 2020) Mike spoke with Jeff Renard of VTVLC. VTVLC is offering the Online Teaching Best Practices course to help teachers prepare for next year. This standards-based, 10-hour online course is facilitated by an experienced online teacher in cohorts up to 14 educators over a 3-week period. Start dates are flexible up to June 15th. Administrators can pre-register…
Mike spoke with David Bennett. David has been working in the field of education and student support for the past 14 years. He has a bachelor’s degree in Biological Science and secondary education and a Masters Degree in Clinical Social Work. He has spent the majority of his professional career working to develop a comprehensive…
Mike interviewed VPA Executive Director, Jay Nichols, on the morning of April 10th, 2020. They talked about the latest from state leadership on COVID-19, the worries, the pride for VT educators, nitty gritty of attendance policy with distant learning, access to internet, educational funding, and more. Please excuse some paper shuffling and less than perfect…
Our first ever remote podcast! With social distancing enacted, we connected with Mara Iverson, Director of Education at Outright Vermont to talk through school leadership, student voice, and how we can best serve LGBTQ+ youth through school closure and beyond. Here is the guidance that Mara references regarding recommendations for schools in conjunction with the VT-AOE. Facebook Twitter Print…
Erica was a 2015 Principal of the Year, and serves on the VPA’s Executive Council and as Vermont’s National Association of Elementary School Principals representative. Original release date, 3/4/20. Facebook Twitter Print Friendly LinkedIn
We talk with Paul Cillo of the Public Assets Institute. We discuss the origins and fundaments of the current Vermont school financing policy, ACT 60, and how it relates to current Vermont school finance topics such as ACT 173 & the UVM Weighting Study. If you are interested in how schools are funded in Vermont, you’ll want…
For our first ever episode, we talk all things school leadership with VPA Executive Director, Jay Nichols. We learn more about Jay’s story of school leadership in Vermont and hear some of his core pieces of leadership advice, hot-topics for Vermont administrators, and more. Original release date, 12/18/19. Facebook Twitter Print Friendly LinkedIn