Karle Delo, AI strategist at Michigan Virtual, shares how educators can prepare future-ready students by integrating AI into teaching while prioritizing human skills. Karle recommends forming a district AI task force to assess policies, student data privacy and teacher usability. framework for AI integration on our Michigan Virtual AI Lab website. www.michiganvirtual.org/AI

Dr. Mag Gardner,Senior Global Capacity Building Facilitator for New Pedagogies of Deep Learning, discusses "how four elements of learning design foster the development of six global competencies, creating deep learning for all students. "By inviting student voice and agency, teachers create a listening and coaching culture 'defronting their classrooms'. Deep learning is about drawing connections with what we learn, with whom we learn, and how we learn. It builds a sense of individual and collective efficacy, and changes students’ trajectories. Deep learning authentically supports equity and well-being." https://deep-learning.global/

Will Richardson, co-founder of the Big Question Institute, explains, “It’s not going back to school, and doing things a bit better, but doing things differently; creating environments where learning happens really deeply. It’s capacity building around a coherent definition of learning, arising from conversations with students, teachers and the school community. It’s strategic design for the future.” https://bigquestions.institute/bqi-new-homepage/

Mary Kay Gallagher, Superintendent of Northville Public Schools, shares her inherent belief in the tremendous importance of collective work and shared leadership. “The leadership capacity work occurs when you’re looking at how your principals have a voice in what's happening in your district and at the building level when teachers are involved in looking at their sphere of influence and where they have impact, and the idea of leading from everywhere in your organization. It's not about your title; it's about your action.”

Lori Higgins is the bureau chief for Chalkbeat Detroit. Chalkbeat is a national nonprofit educational news organization providing local coverage of educational policies and practices. Chalkbeat also covers school news in communities across the state. Lori Higgins discusses the media partnerships, covering district use of ESSER Funds, teacher recruitment and retention initiatives, and her experience reporting on COVID’s lasting toll on schools in an article co-published with the New York Times. https://www.chalkbeat.org/

Who would want to become a school superintendent during the pandemic? Dr. Chris Delgado, Superintendent of Farmington Public Schools, reflects on his experiences as he completes his first year in this position. He discusses building school board and community relationships, responding to social media, fostering distributed leadership, the challenges of teacher recruitment and retention, and the steps taken in his district to re-imagine education moving forward. Dr Delgado concludes the podcast with his advice to aspiring superintendents and a personal testament to the power of public education.

Dr. Gerald Hill engages in a rich conversation with Bob Maxfield and Suzanne Klein, reflecting on his district leadership experiences, guiding principles and vision for re-imagining teaching and learning. Drawing upon a wealth of experience as an educational leader and insight as a forward thinker, Dr. Hill shares his perspective and advice for current district leaders offering eight essential guideposts: School Finance; School Board Relations; Staff Relations; Organized Abandonment; Flexible Thinking; Student Learning Environments; Graduate Students with the Four C’s; and Support Current and Future Educators.

Dr. William Pearson, Director of the Office of Partnership Districts in the Michigan Department of Education, explains how partnership districts and schools are identified, and the support provided during their three-year agreement to increase student proficiency and growth scores. Dr. Pearson also discusses the state budget recommendations to address the teacher shortage: bonuses to retain current teachers, fellowships to pay student teachers, and funds designated to encourage high school and college students to pursue a teaching career.

Dr. David Dulio, Professor of Political Science at Oakland University and Director of the Center for Civic Engagement, explains the context of political polarization, how government representatives define their role as delegates or trustees, the impact of salient issues on their roles, and its application to school level politics. Referencing Richard Fenno’s seminal study of the home style of Congress Members (1978), Dr. Dulio cites for school leaders the three behaviors essential to building trust with the community: qualification, identification and empathy. He recommends increased transparency of process and information as a response plan for difficult educational issues that might divide the community. ddulio@oakland.edu , https://oakland.edu/polisci/cce

Jay Westover, author of Districts on the Move and C.L.O. of InnovateEd, having been mentored by Rick DuFour and Michael Fullan, makes the case for systems thinking and coherence to create sustainable school improvement. He identifies four key drivers: clarity of focus, shared leadership, collaborative inquiry and a feedback loop. “If you want to build coherence and be a systems thinker, you have to be very intentional in how you transform climate, shape culture and build capacity to create coherence, and the end game has to be equity.” website: https://innovateed.com/

Vicki Wilson, school principal and author of Lead with Instructional Rounds: Creating a Culture of Professional Learning, is a passionate advocate of the benefit of Instructional Rounds to both students and teachers. She explains in detail that Instructional Rounds, when done well creates a collegial school culture, structures professional reflection and dialogue around the classroom observations, builds upon strength-based feedback and promotes the best instructional practices for optimal student learning. https://www.vickiwilson.org/

Dr. Dania Bazzi, named 2022 Michigan Superintendent of the Year, by the Michigan Association of Superintendents and Administrators, leads transformative change in Ferndale Public Schools “creating an equity-based strategic plan; ensuring that policies and practices align with the district's commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion; designing systems of schools to meet the needs of all students; and addressing the achievement gap by increasing minority and low income participation in honors and AP classes. Prioritizing time for S.E.L. equips students with content skills and 'life skills'. School leaders as teaching and learning experts, make decisions rooted in what's best for kids. For superintendents, it's important to be visible, honest and accessible." https://www.ferndaleschools.org/

Julie (Wilson) Jungalwala, author of The Human Side of Changing Education and Director of the Institute for the Future of Learning, offers invaluable insight into the process of asking schools to change, which requires asking people to change. “An unbelievable force for change is the teachers’ passion and mission that's in their hearts.” Adult learning is essential to achieve the desired student learning outcomes. Transformational leaders coach with compassion, make their learning explicit and model being a lead learner. Her advice for leading change: “ground yourself in your call to adventure, your mission; take tiny baby steps with relentless consistency; do not do this work alone; find your peace.” https://www.the-ifl.org/

Carolyn McKanders, educator, international facilitator and author, reflected on the impact of the pandemic. “It is paramount to attend to students' well-being holistically by crafting a safe environment, utilizing trauma informed instruction, recognizing learning differences, and partnering with families. Building adaptive systems enables schools to meet the needs of students, staff and the community, and creates cultures which celebrate the diversity of who you are, how you are and your personal strengths, enhancing both individual and group efficacy. Current social issues where polarity exists are complex and need to be managed for good outcomes. For conversations with tensions: pause, paraphrase, begin with “and” to add your ideas or a different perspective, to collectively create better solutions.”

"Schools are in the midst of an epic design challenge," according to Will Richardson, co-founder of the Big Questions Institute. His foundational big questions and compelling observations will lead school leaders to rethink every aspect of their systems and practices, then re-imagine and redesign schools and school systems to ensure all students are successful, contributing important work to the world. https://bigquestions.institute/9-questions/

Dr. Cynthia Carver, Associate Professor and Chair of the Teacher Development in Educational Studies Department at Oakland University, and Marcia Hudson, Elementary Field Coordinator in the School of Education and Human Services, highlight features of the newly revised Elementary Teacher Preparation Program and discuss the lessons learned from the pandemic to inform both the coursework and student teaching. This new program maintains the hallmarks of a practice-based approach informed by state and national standards; a commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion and justice; and personalization of the student experience. Teacher education at Oakland University remains anchored in strong clinical and school partnerships, on-going collaboration among faculty, staff and mentor teachers and is differentiated by its intentional coherence between courses to deepen skills needed to be an effective teacher and teacher leader. https://oakland.edu/teach/undergraduate-degree-programs/elementary-education/

Robert McCann, Executive Director of The K-12 Alliance of Michigan, explained districts have utilized the influx of federal funds for programs and personnel for an array of wraparound services to support students’ unique academic and social emotional needs arising from the pandemic. The Alliance will be highlighting programs that support students' needs as models for the 'new normal', and advocating for state funding to meet that 'normal', in order to give students the best opportunities for success going forward. Website https://www.k12michigan.org

Galileo 3.0 Trusted Voices is a nonpartisan advocacy group which supports a network of teacher leaders, focused on building collaborative partnerships among teachers, administrators, and policymakers to ensure every Michigan learner receives the highest quality education. Trusted Voices lifts up the voice of teacher leaders to impact and inform, not only their local school districts and their constituents, but the broader audience of legislators and others who are decision makers in education. For more information on Trusted Voices, visit their website www.trustedvoicesed.com or Trusted Voices (@TrustedVoicesEd) on Twitter

District teams are designing plans to address six critical issues:rebuilding trusting relationships; engaging students in their own learning; ensuring equity for all stakeholders; harnessing digital technology to support learning; leading from the middle and utilizing systems, protocols and procedures to create a collaborative culture. The Galileo Institute's professional learning series facilitator, Larry Thomas summarizes the development, content and impact of these six sessions. Link to an overview of the six session series: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/13HSiB7WNwTmmq76dnWuXpX1VIUjIwV0auia7fO4yLyk/edit?usp=sharing

How can schools become high reliability organizations, a place where every student can be successful? Dr. Liepa revisits the recommendations of the 2018 Michigan School Finance Research Collaborative study which address both adequacy and equity and also provides a new state formula for funding schools, wrap around services and learning supports to meet the needs of individuals and groups of students. Having this shared vision, a roadmap with processes in place, and an implementation plan will enable school districts to offer educational opportunities at the highest level for all students so each of them succeeds. https://www.fundmischools.org/ FACT SHEET: