Episodes
Is it time to get rid of math? The guys debate the usefulness of math requirements (along with other public education requirements) in our schools today and what it might mean to think differently. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/02/06/end-useless-math-requirements/
Published 02/26/24
Welcome back! The guys are back and just in time for a "year in review" session of the Ed's Not Dead podcast. During this episode, we discuss some of the articles listed below, and begin to touch upon the stories we think will be at the forefront of education news come 2024. Happy New Year! Year in Education 2023 Review January: Seizing on Parents’ Frustration, GOP Governors Push for Education Savings Accounts February: Florida Just Became the Nation’s Biggest School Choice Laboratory ...
Published 01/01/24
For our first official episode of our 7th year on the pod, we welcome veteran Ed's Not Dead guest, Phyllis Fagell on the pod. Phyllis is a licensed clinical professional counselor, certified professional school counselor and journalist. We discuss her most recent book, Middle School Superpowers: Raising Resilient Tweens in Turbulent Times, what's changed since her last appearance on the pod, and what's next for middle school life.  Buy Phyllis' book via her website:...
Published 07/24/23
The gang is back...for an hour LOL After a lengthy hiatus due to personal and professional obligations, the dudes are back in force. The dudes discuss the recent Hugh Hewitt piece on banning smartphones in school, catch up on the year in review, talk about summer plans, and what's next for the Ed's Not Dead team (hint: Ed is DEFINITELY not dead)!
Published 06/17/23
The Superintendent Series (Part 2 with Dr. Monifa McKnight) The Series continues with Ed’s Not Dead’s examination of the courage and lived experiences of school system leaders and the successes and challenges of public school systems. We’ll be interviewing three courageous leaders who are leading their school systems to better days after three immensely difficult years. This episode features Dr. Monifa McKnight, Superintendent of the Montgomery County Public School System in Maryland - the...
Published 12/07/22
On today's pod, we welcome a very special guest in our Superintendent Series with Dr. Darryl Williams, superintendent of the Baltimore County Public School system. Dr. Williams is a highly experienced and successful educational leader who has held a variety of important roles in public ed: from teacher to principal to superintendent, Dr. Williams has spent 30 plus years improving outcomes for students and we are so excited to have him on the pod! We also discuss Stephanie Saul's piece about...
Published 10/06/22
The dudes have returned with gusto! They talk about the dreaded teacher shortage, teacher certification and degrees, and much more. https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2022/09/13/teacher-requirements-shortage-jobs/ The gang also chats with Scott Joftus, co-founder and president FourPoint Education. FourPoint engages with school systems and leaders in the areas of school and district improvement, system reviews and strategic planning, and leadership development. Joftus is also a...
Published 09/20/22
How can middle school leaders ease the transition to high school? https://www.k12dive.com/news/how-can-middle-school-leaders-ease-the-transition-to-high-school/625897/ What is most important when planning for transitions between schools, individual grade levels, and what do we know what works in the best interest of kids?
Published 07/05/22
The guys are back from a semi-hiatus, and discuss the awful events from Uvalde, as well as getting up to speed from our last episode.  We also had the pleasure of bringing teacher, and instructional leader Miriam Plotinsky on the show to talk about her new book: Teach More, Hover Less: How to Stop Micromanaging Your Secondary Classroom. https://www.amazon.com/Teach-More-Hover-Less-Micromanaging/dp/1324019875  
Published 06/05/22
Published 02/09/22
It's time for YOUR questions! We picked a whole boot load of questions that you had on your mind about education, schools, edpolicy, the super bowl, and more! Listen and enjoy AND happy new year! NOTE: apologies if this shows up in your feed more than once! We messed up the original audio file! 
Published 01/05/22
It's time for YOUR questions! We picked a whole boot load of questions that you had on your mind about education, schools, edpolicy, the super bowl, and more! Listen and enjoy AND happy new year!
Published 01/05/22
Is Math Racist? Wrong Question: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/12/15/is-math-racist-public-school-pedagogy/ California Moves to Replace Math with Data Science: https://www.educationnext.org/california-moves-to-replace-math-with-data-science-in-the-name-of-equity-and-inclusion/
Published 12/23/21
For a special pre-Thanksgiving episode, the guys discuss Robert Pondiscio's recent piece that disparages Social Emotional Learning / describes it as the new downfall of public education as we know it. https://fordhaminstitute.org/national/commentary/not-everyones-board-turning-schooling-therapy For actual facts about SEL and to ensure you are residing in reality, visit CASEL to learn more about what SEL is and what it looks like / sounds like in the classroom:...
Published 11/24/21
How much should we be worried about the growing tensions and anger directed at schools and school boards across the country? And how much should parents have a say about what is taught in schools? Arrest Parents at School Board Meetings https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2021/10/07/school-boards-dont-call-fbi/6035611001/ How much say should parents have in what is taught in schools? https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2021/10/28/parental-rights-in-schools-untenable/
Published 11/01/21
The guys are back for season 5 and they discuss the phasing out of GT programs in the largest school system in the country: New York City and what its impact will have on education. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/08/nyregion/gifted-talented-nyc-schools.html They are also joined by Ed's Not Dead resident historian, Johann Neem, to discuss the individualist fallacy and the future of ed under COVID.
Published 10/18/21
Casey Siddons, Robby Dodd, and Peter Crable breakdown the implications for schools regarding Erica Dhawan's new piece: Why the hybrid workforce of the future depends on geriatric millennials  Casey Siddons then takes on the interview with Sebastian Turbot, who is the CEO and Chief Curator of eko6, a Canada-based consultancy that guides governments, cities, businesses and civil-society in creating engaging platforms that turn ideas into action.
Published 06/02/21
Peter, Robby, and Casey talk about the Chris Stewart piece: "Yes, America is Racist, no you shouldn't teach my kids if you disagree." https://educationpost.org/yes-america-is-racist-no-you-shouldnt-teach-my-kids-if-you-disagree/ Peter and Casey also interview Adeola Whitney, CEO of Reading Partners, a national nonprofit that mobilizes communities to provide students with the proven, individualized reading support they need to read at grade level by fourth grade.
Published 05/17/21
For our 1st episode as a media partner with the World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE), we bring on Gregg Behr, who was recently featured on their panel for "How to Build a Learning Ecosystem (https://fb.watch/5oiyeDhZpj/). Gregg is the founder and co-chair of Remake Learning and is also the author of "When You Wonder, You're Learning" Mister Rogers' Enduring Lessons for Raising Creative, Curious, Caring Kids (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0306874733?tag=hacboogrosit-20)
Published 05/10/21
The dudes discuss Samantha Hedges' new piece in Discourse Magazine: Social Justice Is Now the Fourth Purpose of Public Schools and All Four Are in Conflict: https://www.discoursemagazine.com/culture-and-society/2021/04/21/social-justice-is-now-the-fourth-purpose-of-public-schools-and-all-four-are-in-conflict/ We also interview Robert Pondiscio (@rpondiscio) about his new piece in EducationNext: https://www.educationnext.org/can-teaching-be-improved-by-law-twenty-states-measures-reading/ 
Published 05/03/21
This is the final episode of the Pandemic Pass mini-series all about how we can best emerge as a school system stronger and better than before. This episode, Siddons is joined by his friend/colleague Serenity Moore to interview the incomparable Zaretta Hammond. Moore and Siddons ask Zaretta about deficit thinking and the premature determination of "learning loss" and much much more!
Published 04/01/21
The dudes discuss the LA Times piece on the "educational mess" we now find ourselves and what it will take to get back. https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2021-03-23/post-pandemic-educational-mess The guys also interview Dr. Leslie Fenwick who is the dean emeritus of Howard University’s School of Education, about HBCUs, supporting our students of color, and diversifying the teaching workforce across the country.
Published 03/29/21
For the penultimate episode of the Pandemic Pass series Siddons sit down with Lynne Harris, who is a newly elected board of education member in the 14th largest school district in the nation - Montgomery County Public Schools, right outside the DC Metro Area. They talk about how boards of education could be rethinking education and what our local school systems should be prioritizing upon return to face to face instruction.
Published 03/18/21
Today's topics: * Guns on students' Zoom classroom / bedroom debate. Where is the line between students' privacy, and the safety and well-being of others? * We bring on Dan Reed from www.justupthepike.com to talk about the impact of housing policy and zoning laws on education and the opportunity gaps that students face across the country.
Published 03/15/21