The Good Life EDU Podcast

In this episode of The Good Life EDU Podcast, Andrew Easton is joined by members of the NEMTSS leadership team: Amy Rhone, Scott Eckman, and Brooke Kahl for a preview of the 2026 NEMTSS Summit. Together, they discuss the history and evolution of Nebraska’s MTSS work, including its roots in supporting improved outcomes for students with disabilities and its growth into a statewide system of support focused on all learners. This year’s Summit's theme, Destination Impact: Turning MTSS Systems Into Literacy-Driven Student Outcomes, reflects Nebraska’s continued emphasis on strengthening literacy instruction and using multi-tiered systems of support to improve outcomes for every student. The conversation highlights what educators can expect at the summit, including keynote speakers, school spotlight sessions, practitioner stories, and opportunities for school teams to learn together. Amy, Scott, and Brooke also share why MTSS is not a one-time initiative or isolated program, but a systems-level approach to supporting both students and the adults who serve them. Resource Mentioned: NEMTSS website: Learn more and register for the Summit at https://nemtss.unl.edu/

For nearly three decades, the E-rate program has helped schools and libraries across the country afford the connectivity and internal networks essential to their work. Now, as federal officials reconsider the program’s purpose and future, education leaders are being called upon to explain why dependable connectivity remains vital to America’s schools. In this episode of The Good Life EDU Podcast, Andrew welcomes Keith Krueger, CEO of the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN), for a timely conversation about the history of E-rate, the questions now surrounding it, and what could be at stake for students, educators, and communities. Learn More and Take Action Visit SaveOurERate.com to access advocacy resources, review the E-rate funding received by your district or community, and share the local stories that demonstrate what reliable connectivity makes possible for students and schools.

In this episode of The Good Life EDU Podcast, Andrew welcomes Cynthia Curry, Project Director, and Jena Fahlbush, Technical Assistance Specialist, from the National Center on Accessible Digital Educational Materials & Instruction, known as NCADEMI. Together, they unpack what digital accessibility means for K–12 schools and why this work is about much more than compliance. The conversation explores accessibility as a civil right, the relationship between ADA Title II and IDEA, and the importance of designing digital materials, websites, communications, and instructional resources to be accessible from the beginning rather than retrofitted later. Cynthia and Jena also explain the role of WCAG 2.1 Level AA, the POUR framework, and the practical first steps educators and school leaders can take to build accessibility into everyday practice. Listeners will hear examples that connect directly to school life, from websites and learning management systems to classroom documents, PDFs, social media posts, lunch menus, and instructional materials. The episode also highlights how accessibility benefits students, families, staff, and community members while helping schools create more inclusive and efficient systems. Resources Mentioned: NCADEMI Accessibility Basics: https://ncademi.org/create/basics/ NCADEMI ADA Title II Roadmap for SEAs and LEAs: https://ncademi.org/sustain/roadmap/ Nebraska Learning Network Accessibility Essentials Course: https://canvas.education.ne.gov/courses/accessibility-essentials

Across her previous visits to The Good Life EDU Podcast, Dr. Katie Novak has helped listeners understand the foundations of Universal Design for Learning, its role within MTSS, and the possibilities created when educators bring UDL and artificial intelligence together. In this return conversation, Katie and Andrew take the next step by examining what educators must understand themselves before they can use AI to design learning responsibly and effectively. Drawing from her latest book, The UDL Shift, Katie explains why strong instructional design begins with firm goals and flexible means. Through a live example, she demonstrates how an AI-generated “UDL lesson” can unintentionally remove the very skill students are expected to learn and why standards alignment, pedagogical knowledge, and human review must remain central to the design process. The goal is not simply to generate something quickly, but to use AI within a thoughtful cycle of planning, analysis, revision, and human transformation. The conversation also extends beyond lesson planning. Katie explores how educators can prepare students for standardized assessments without abandoning flexible and inclusive instruction, why interleaving is more effective than last-minute test preparation, and how students can build the metacognitive awareness needed to transfer their learning into less-flexible settings. Katie and Andrew also address growing concerns about screen time, accessibility, and device use, making the case for purposeful technology integration rather than an all-or-nothing approach. This episode is a reminder that AI does not reduce the need for educator expertise; it makes that expertise even more important. Resources Referenced in This Episode The UDL Shift: Designing Inclusive Learning That Works by Katie Novak Elevating Educational Design with AI: Making Learning Accessible, Inclusive, and Equitable by Catlin Tucker and Katie Novak Nebraska Learning Network, where Nebraska educators can access Katie’s free three-course UDL learning series. AI-Enhanced Processes by Alex McMillan Katie Novak’s UDL Flowchart

In this episode of The Good Life EDU Podcast, Andrew Easton welcomes back Amanda Bickerstaff, CEO and Co-Founder of AI for Education, for a timely conversation about where schools are in their generative AI journey and what practical next steps can help educators, leaders, and students move forward with greater clarity. Amanda shares the thinking behind AI for Education’s new SEE Framework, which defines generative AI literacy as the knowledge, mindsets, and practices that allow individuals to use GenAI safely, ethically, and effectively. The conversation explores why AI literacy cannot be limited to teachers or leaders alone, why schools should avoid gatekeeping these conversations from students, and how clear guardrails can help learning communities make more intentional decisions about AI use. Andrew and Amanda also discuss the practical dilemmas schools are facing right now, including AI-generated feedback, AI grading, AI detection, student use of chatbots, Google AI Overviews, and the need to move beyond simple “AI is good” or “AI is bad” binaries. Amanda emphasizes that the work is not about adopting every AI tool or avoiding AI altogether, but about building the judgment to know when AI use is appropriate, when it is not, and how to remain intentional, critical, transparent, responsible, and committed to continued learning. This episode also previews Amanda’s keynote and breakout session at the Future Ready Nebraska Conference, where she will explore the SEE Framework and provide practical examples, including “SEE snapshots,” that help educators think through real-world AI decisions using the framework’s lenses of safe, ethical, and effective use. Resources: AI for Education Resource hub for AI literacy, guidance, prompt libraries, webinars, and practical supports for schools. https://www.aiforeducation.io/ The SEE Framework: A Practical Guide to Building Generative AI Literacy AI for Education’s generative AI literacy framework focused on the knowledge, mindsets, and practices needed to use GenAI safely, ethically, and effectively. https://www.aiforeducation.io/the-see-framework-for-generative-ai-literacy AI Course for Educators — AI for Education A free, self-paced, two-hour course designed to help educators get started with AI, developing prompting strategies, considering ethical implications, and introducing AI to students responsibly. https://www.aiforeducation.io/ai-course Beyond the AI Inflection Point A futurist piece from AI for Education that explores a fictional school district’s AI journey from 2023 to 2030 and invites educators to think through the choices schools are facing now. https://www.beyondtheaiinflectionpoint.com/ Future Ready Nebraska Conference Amanda Bickerstaff’s keynote and breakout session will highlight the SEE Framework and practical AI literacy decisions for schools. https://nefutureready.com/

In this episode of The Good Life EDU Podcast, we welcome author, coach, and educator Elena Aguilar, along with Jeremy Stoll and Ted Dondlinger from Westside High School, for a conversation about emotional resilience, educator well-being, and the power of teachers supporting teachers. The episode highlights Westside High School’s ongoing use of Elena Aguilar’s book Onward: Cultivating Emotional Resilience in Educators and its accompanying workbook. Ted shares how the work began during a difficult post-COVID season, when he was searching for something that could help him and his colleagues process the weight of the work and reconnect with hope, purpose, and one another. What started as a book study has grown into a meaningful, recurring space for reflection, connection, and support among educators. Elena shares the story behind Onward, including how her decades of experience as a teacher, coach, and leader shaped her focus on educator resilience, burnout, agency, compassion, gratitude, and belonging. She explains why the book is organized around the rhythm of the school year and how its monthly structure helps educators return to the practices they need at different points in the year. This episode is a powerful reminder that educator well-being is not simply an individual responsibility. It is strengthened through connection, shared language, purposeful reflection, and school cultures where educators are invited to care for themselves and one another. Resources Mentioned Onward: Cultivating Emotional Resilience in Educators by Elena Aguilar https://www.brightmorningteam.com/resources/books/onward The Onward Workbook: Daily Activities to Cultivate Your Emotional Resilience and Thrive by Elena Aguilar https://www.brightmorningteam.com/resources/books/onward Elena Aguilar’s work on transformational coaching and educator resilience https://www.brightmorningteam.com/ Westside High School, Omaha, Nebraska https://whs.westside66.org/

In this episode of The Good Life EDU Podcast, Andrew Easton welcomes Dr. Kanyon Chism, Chief of Staff and Administrator at ESU 19/Omaha Public Schools (OPS), for a thoughtful conversation about de-implementation and the importance of creating space for the work that matters most in education. Dr. Chism shares how OPS began exploring de-implementation as part of its broader strategic work connected to the district’s moonshot goal of having all students reading on grade level by 2030. Inspired in part by Leidy Klotz’s book Subtract: The Untapped Science of Less, Dr. Chism explains how the district began thinking not only about what to add or implement, but also what to refine, reduce, replace, or stop doing altogether. This episode offers a valuable look at how school systems can move beyond initiative overload and begin building intentional processes for subtraction. For any educator or leader working to create coherence, protect time, and focus energy on the highest-impact work, this conversation provides both practical insight and a powerful mindset shift. Resources: Subtract: The Untapped Science of Less by Leidy Klotz. This book helped frame the episode’s conversation around why individuals and organizations often default to adding more, even when subtraction may be the better path forward. https://leidyklotz.com/subtract/ “De-implementation: Creating the Space to Focus on What Works” by Peter DeWitt. This article offers a helpful education-specific overview of de-implementation, including the distinction between informal and formal de-implementation processes. https://corwin-connect.com/2022/05/de-implementation-creating-the-space-to-focus-on-what-works/

In this episode of The Good Life EDU Podcast, we welcome Jill Pancoast, President of The Breakthrough Coach, for a conversation about how school leaders can reclaim time, strengthen office systems, and focus more fully on the instructional leadership work they were hired to do. Jill shares the history of The Breakthrough Coach, a management training and coaching firm that has supported school administrators and their secretaries since 1998. The conversation explores how principals, superintendents, and central office leaders can shift away from the “administrivia” of the front office and toward the work that most directly impacts teaching and learning. Throughout the episode, Andrew reflects on his own experience participating in The Breakthrough Coach Foundations Course and highlights the program’s practical focus on role clarity, delegation, executive support, and sustainable leadership practices. Jill also explains why the administrator-secretary partnership is central to the model and how strong systems can help leaders spend significantly more time in classrooms, coaching teachers, supporting staff, and improving student outcomes. This conversation is especially relevant for school leaders who feel stretched thin, overwhelmed by daily tasks, or pulled away from the instructional leadership work they value most. It is also a timely reminder that taking care of systems, roles, and personal sustainability is not separate from leadership; it is foundational to leading well. For more information about The Breakthrough Coach Program, visit https://www.the-breakthrough-coach.com/

In this episode of The Good Life EDU Podcast, Kristen Mattson—author, educator, and co-creator of the Edvolve Framework—returns for a deep and timely conversation on digital citizenship in today’s rapidly evolving, AI-driven world. Together, Kristen and Andrew explore how Nebraska is moving from fragmented, siloed efforts toward a coherent, statewide approach to digital citizenship, grounded in shared language and practical application. Kristen breaks down the four strands of the Edvolve Framework—Digital Safety, Media & Information Literacy, Digital Wellbeing, and Social Responsibility—and explains how these elements overlap in real-world learning experiences. This episode challenges the idea that digital citizenship is a one-off lesson or compliance task. Instead, it reframes the work as ongoing, inquiry-based learning that can be embedded across content areas—from elementary author studies to high school social studies discussions on AI and society. Kristen also shares a powerful reminder: educators don’t need to have all the answers—they need to create the conditions for students to ask better questions and think more deeply. Whether you're a classroom teacher, school leader, or parent, this episode offers both big-picture clarity and practical entry points for supporting students as thoughtful, responsible participants in digital spaces.

In this episode, we are joined by speaker, author, and education advocate Allyson Apsey, who shares insights from her latest book, "Leading the Whole Teacher." Listen and learn from Allyson as she highlights her six elements of how we might effectively lead and support teachers, and just like her book, this resource is filled with practical strategies that are easy to implement. To learn more from Allyson, visit allysonapsey.com/

This episode brings together all five of Nebraska's Regional Program Coordinators for students who are deaf or hard of hearing, and the group is joined by NDE's Darsha Pelland, who works in the Office of Special Education as the IDEA Low Incidence Director. On the pod, coordinators Heather Witte, Sara Peterson, Jill Hoffart, Lindsey Hinzmann, and Diane Meyer explain the full scope of services for our deaf and hard of hearing children and their families. Listeners will appreciate learning about the statewide structure, the programming available, and the heartfelt examples these great educators share from their personal experiences with serving their students. To learn more about this program and to contact a regional coordinator, access https://nrpdhh.esu9.org/ for more details.

This week, we explore a "co-teaching plus" approach to reimagining how teams of teachers can facilitate learning experiences thanks to Brent Maddin, the Executive Director of the Next Education Workforce Team and the Professor of Practice at the MLF Teachers' College at Arizona State University. Show notes: If you are interested in joining the 2022-2023 Next Education Workforce Learning Cohort, you can do so here: https://www.aasa.org/edu-workforce.aspx If you only have 10 minutes, check out this video that captures the big idea of the Next Education Workforce and click around the Next Education Workforce website. Here is the Resource Collection related to budget-neutral financial models that support innovative staffing (referenced in the episode). Recent press on the Next Education Workforce The Nevada Independent, “Reimagining Teaching” (July 28, 2022) AZ Republic OpEd, “Arizona needs great teachers, not just warm bodies, in classrooms. Here's how to get them” (July 30, 2022) EdWeek, “It’s Time to Rethink the ‘One Teacher, One Classroom’ Model” (July 20, 2022) Ed Surge, “Arizona Needs Teachers. Does the Answer Lie Beyond Recruitment?” (July 20, 2022) Scottsdale/Paradise Valley Independent, “Leaving the classroom: 30% of Scottsdale Unified teachers resign, retire” (July 6, 2022) CNET, “The Great Resignation Hasn’t hit School Teachers Yet. Here’s Why it Still Might.” (Feb 14, 2022).

Recently, The Good Life EDU podcast has been exploring a variety of ways in which the education community at large has responded to the present teacher shortage. In this episode, the superintendent of Morrill Public Schools, Barry Schaeffer, and the coordinator for the world languages program at ESU 5, Dr. Nicholas Ziegler, explain how distance learning courses are helping Nebraska schools offer students learning experiences that would be challenging to provide without this programming.

Dr. Kay Shurtleff of ESC Region 10 in Texas joins us on The Good Life EDU Podcast this week to share her recent research findings regarding teacher shortages in the US. In this episode, Dr. Shurtleff details the factors contributing to this issue and highlights several innovative efforts being made to address it. This conversation came about as a result of Dr. Shurtleff's recent AESA Perspectives journal article by the same title, "What Do We Really Know About the Teacher Shortage and What Can We Do?" which can be accessed at https://www.aesa.us/blog/?p=405.

This is the fifth episode in a five-part series with members of the NDE SEED Team as they share their work with establishing the Educator Effectiveness Standards in Nebraska. This particular pod hones in on school leadership through the Educator Effectiveness lens. Ryan Ricenbaw, co-lead of the NDE SEED Team, opens the episode with a recap of the June Educator Effectiveness Summit, and he is joined by Reid Ehrisman, principal at Madison Middle School, who provides his learning and reflections following that two-day Summit.

This episode highlights the amazing efforts and the resulting inquiry units of study developed by thirty Nebraska educators as a part of the ESUCC's 2022 social studies special project. This initiative brought together personnel from several ESUs, including members of SDA (the staff development affiliate) and TLT (the teaching and learning with technology affiliate) to train, lead, and support this select group of 4th-8th grade teachers as they designed units of study to implement in their own classroom practices and to share with others across our state! For more information on the SS special project, the inquiry design model, the NE social studies standards and shifts, and to receive access to the resource collection (including the inquiry training itself), access https://www.esucc.org/instructional-materials/social-studies/

Have a pen and paper ready to take notes because this week we are joined by tech integrationist, Eric Curts of Stark Portage Area Computer Consortium (ESC) who shares a myriad of tech tools, sites, and insights that educators can look to integrate into their lesson design and professional learning in the school year ahead. In the episode we discuss... Eric Curts's Control, Alt, Achieve Blog: https://www.controlaltachieve.com/ Google's Screencast App for ChromeOS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHyPcIHvlxo Feedly: https://feedly.com/ Steve Wick's Blog: https://rechargelearning.blogspot.com/ 75 Super Ed Tech Blogs to Follow: https://www.controlaltachieve.com/2021/04/edtech-blogs.html No Sign-Up Tools: https://www.nosignup.tools/ Geo Artwork from Google: https://artsandculture.google.com/experiment/geo-artwork/wgEPVBAUiRVlEQ?hl=en EmojiMix: https://tikolu.net/emojimix/ Google Educators Group of Ohio: https://sites.google.com/view/geg-ohio/home

Erica Johnson, Assistant Special Education Director at ESU 10, and Pam Brezenski, Special Education Director at ESU 13, join the pod this week to explain the individualized programming that our 18 to 21 special education learners receive in Nebraska as they work towards completing their IEP goals.

Dr. Chris Haeffner of Lincoln Public Schools (ESU 18) joins The Good Life EDU this week to share out about the work that their district is doing to create resources to support school librarians in their district and across Nebraska. Those materials include clear identification of learning objectives by grade level bands, an at-a-glance pacing guide, and lesson plans specific to each objective. Best of all, the team at LPS wants this work to be available to all school librarians, so if you are interested in accessing their resources, now and as they develop more, you can access those at https://home.lps.org/libraries/

In this episode, educator, author, and consultant Lainie Rowell joins us to discuss her latest book, Evolving with Gratitude. Our conversation takes a deep dive into Lainie's learning on the topic of gratitude, and she shares a myriad of practical practices that educators can implement both personally and professionally for the health and wellness of themselves and the students they serve. Learn more from Lainie at https://www.lainierowell.com/

Nebraska's Educational Service Unit 3 is the only service agency in the country that owns and operates a fully-functioning farm. In this episode of The Good Life EDU podcast, we chat with Troy Glock, the Executive Director of Program Services for ESU 3's Gifford Farm to learn more about the unique learning opportunities and services this special place is providing students in the Omaha Metro Area and across the state of Nebraska. For more info on Gifford Farm, access http://www.esu3.org/GF/Home

This week, we dive into a data dialogue with Amy Trauernicht of ESU 13 and Melissa Engel of ESU 16, the co-chairs of the Data Cadre in our state. In the episode, Amy and Melissa explain all things data related to education from what data is collected, how it is housed, the process for facilitating data dig conversations, and the logistics for how the Data Cadre supports teaching, learning, and other edu-initiatives across Nebraska. Should you be interested in learning more about the data cadre, accessing their resources, and potentially signing up to become a member of this group, please visit the Nebraska Data Cadre website at https://sites.google.com/esucc.org/data-cadre

Brandon Mowinkel, principal at Milford Jr/SR High School in Milford, Nebraska, joins us for the pod to preview his message for his keynote and breakout sessions at the upcoming Future Ready Nebraska Conference. In this episode, Brandon shares insights about the culture at Milford and the guiding principles that have led his school, staff, and students through his tenure there. Register for the #FRNebraska Conference at nefutureready.com

Andy Boell of the Northeast Network Nebraska Consortium and Gary Needham of ESU 9 join us on the pod this week for a conversation on the topic of cyber security in education. In this episode, Andy and Gary provide insights regarding the current work being done to thwart cyber attacks on Nebraska schools. They also spend some time advocating for where this work could go next to ensure that information stays secure.

This week, Dr. Dan Schnoes, the chief executive officer of Nebraska's ESU 3 shares about his new appointment to the Executive Board of AESA, the Association of Educational Service Agencies. In this episode, Dr. Schnoes provides insight into the role ESAs play broadly in the US while also underscoring AESA's efforts to lead, grow, advocate, and connect agencies to one another and the larger conversations happening in our country. For more on AESA, check out their website at aesa.us

The Good Life EDU podcast is back again this week with yet another preview from a Future Ready Nebraska Conference featured speaker! Award-winning school librarian and school board member, Elissa Malespina, joins us to share her insights on the important role school librarians play in supporting learning and school culture. Register for the in-person or virtual experience at the Future Ready Nebraska Conference, visit nefutureready.com

In this episode, Kim Snyder and Ryan Ricenbaw of the NDE SEED Team invite school attorney and education advocate Bobby Truhe to join them for a discussion on teacher and principal evaluation practices. This conversation encourages a mindset shift when it comes to evaluation, emphasizing educator support and development over mere compliance to a prescribed checklist of basic standards.

In this episode, educator, author, and speaker John Spencer joins us to preview his upcoming keynote message and afternoon workshop that he will deliver at this year's Future Ready Nebraska Conference on June 13th and 14th, 2022. John shares on the topic of choice and voice along with advocating for frameworks such as project-based learning and genius hour. If you're interested in participating in the Future Ready Nebraska Conference, you can register to join in-person or remotely at https://nefutureready.com/ For additional info, resources, blogs, and more from John Spencer check out https://spencerauthor.com/blog/

This episode is the third of five pods we are hosting with the NDE SEED Team on their work with the Nebraska Teacher and Principal Performace Standards (NTPPS). Julie Downing, Kim Snyder, and Ryan Ricenbaw join us this week to discuss the upcoming Educator Effectiveness Summit on June 16 & 17, 2022.

In this episode, we feature ESU 9's efforts to support the mental health and wellness of the students in their region through their special services, specifically discussing their LIMHP and LMHP supports. Joe Haney, the Director of Special Services at ESU 9, along with Liesel Hogan, a licensed independent mental health practitioner at ESU 9, speak to their experiences serving and supporting schools in this critical area of education.

In this week's episode, Dr. John Skretta, administrator of ESU 6 and all-around ed advocate in our state, joins the show to provide a detailed summary of the education-related legislation that was passed into law during the 2022 session in Nebraska. For information specific to each bill, you can follow the timestamps associated with each in the notes below. Legislative Bill #: Time in the Episode LB 852: 20:18 LB 1112: 22:25 LB 1143 & 1146: 27:45 LB 1034: 29:52 LB 1218: 32:14 LB 945: 35:47 LR 374: 38:51 LR 397: 40:40 LR 401: 41:10

What a fun episode this week as Alison Smith of ESU 16 and Mellissa Donohoe of Mullen Public Schools joined us to share their story of how our ESUs support professional learning in Nebraska with personalized professional learning. In this episode, Mellissa explains how she capitalized upon her PLC's learning and implemented strategies that enhanced engagement, learner motivation, and the culture in her business class.

In this episode, Julie Downing and Kim Snyder of the NDE SEED Team discuss how school leaders can take action to retain teachers and recruit the best new hires by focusing on fostering for their staff a sense of belonging, having a voice, feeling supported, and receiving excellent professional development. Julie and Kim speak from their lens as a part of the educator effectiveness team, a group charged with developing the teacher and principal standards in Nebraska. To learn more about the NDE SEED Team and/or to contact its members directly, please visit https://cdn.education.ne.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Educator-Effectiveness.Utilizing-Supporting-Educator-Effectiveness-through-Development-S.E.E.D.-to-Grow-Systems.pdf

This week, Julie Downing of ESU 13 kicks off a five-part pod series that communicates the various aspects of the NDE SEED Team's work. In this episode, she is joined by Kellen Conroy, our SDA chair from ESU 1, and Brooke Kavan of ESU 7. Together, they share how our ESU staff developers are able to integrate the educator effectiveness lens into their conversations and cognitive coaching when those individuals meet with and support schools and teachers in their respective regions of Nebraska.

ESU 3's Aaron Bredenkamp joins The Good Life EDU this week for a conversation on the MTSS work being done in region 3 and across the state of Nebraska. This is an insightful and fun conversation that explores how the MTSS umbrella can unify a school or district and its various initiatives under a mindset of continuous improvement across all facets that support learner growth and achievement.

This week, immersive learning enthusiast, Jaime Donally, joins us again for an episode on the impact of augmented reality and virtual reality in education today. We also devote some time to discussing the metaverse and the future potential learning opportunities that technology might provide. To learn more from Jaime through her collective works and the #31DaysofARVRinEDU initiative, visit her website at https://www.arvrinedu.com/

This week, Scott Butler of Project Harmony in Omaha, Nebraska speaks to the powerful role that hope plays in the learning process, both for the learner and the educator alike. The pod shares research, first-hand experiences, and practical examples of the process from which educators can begin to implement this layer of learning into the educational experiences they design. For more on Project Harmony visit https://projectharmony.com/

Katie Novak joins us for a great conversation on Universal Design for Learning and the role those practices can play in the MTSS model in this episode of The Good Life EDU podcast! For more on UDL and the work Katie has elevated, check out her site at https://www.novakeducation.com/

This week, Dr. James Rickabaugh, the Former Director and now Senior Advisor for the Institute for Personalized Learning, joins us for a fascinating conversation that takes a deep look at personalization and its place in education today and moving forward. In this episode, Dr. Rickabaugh also entertains the future impact of virtual reality and artificial intelligence on education as technology continues to advance.

In this episode, Dorann Avey, the Digitial Learning Director with NDE, and Shara Johnson, Digital Learning Coordinator at ESU 2, join us to share the history, current work, and vision for the future of the Canvas Consortium in Nebraska. Learn how Canvas is having a profound impact on learning in our state and how you can get your local school, district, or institution involved. Show Resources To learn more about the Canvas Consortium, visit https://www.education.ne.gov/educational-technology/canvas-statewide-consortium/ and for questions, please contact [email protected]

In this episode of The Good Life EDU podcast, we are joined by author and educator Rachelle Dene Poth for a conversation about her latest book, "Things I Wish ... Knew." On the pod, Rachelle shares the backstory of this project and advocates for the importance of being a connected educator with a growth mindset. If you are interested in more information about the book, you can find it on Amazon or through Rachelle's site at https://rdene915.com/.

This week, the great games-in-education guru, Dr. Paul Darvasi, is back on the show to discuss the topic of participatory culture and its impact on education today. The conversation delves into how educators might leverage engagement strategies and techniques found in social media and games to engage students and enhance the learning experience design for our Gen Z learners. Paul also shares about his recent venture, Gold Bug Interactive, which you can learn more about at https://goldbuginteractive.com/.

This week, Bill Pulte of ESU 3 makes his third appearance on The Good Life EDU and explains what Eduroam is and the potential benefits of their services for Nebraska schools and the learners that they serve. Eduroam's impact on cyber security is notable and will also enhance student internet access, which makes this conversation a valuable listen for any and all educators in our state.

In this episode of The Good Life EDU podcast, Andi McNair, Digital Innovation Specialist at ESC Region 12 in Texas and author of Genius Hour and A Meaningful Mess, joins us to discuss how we might apply what we know about PBL, passion-based learning, to our approach to professional development in education. Andi advocates for PBT, passion-based teaching, on the pod and outlines the steps teachers might take in order to reignite their passion for the work that they do. At the close of our conversation, Andi points listeners to consider joining her Passion-Based Teaching Academy, which is set to start on February 2nd, 2022. To register for the academy, visit bit.ly/PBTAregister.

This episode captures the backstory and present collaborative efforts being made by our ESU colleagues across Nebraska to develop and share high-quality instructional materials for social studies, grades 4-8. The pod features Lori Broady, leader of the SDA Social Studies cadre, and Nick Ziegler, co-leader of the TLT affiliate, as they discuss the Why, How, and What regarding this work. The call to action for this conversation is to invite current social studies teachers in Nebraska to apply to be a part of this initiative. To receive an application, please contact Andrew Easton at [email protected] directly if you or someone you know is interested in being a part of this fun and unique opportunity.

In this episode, we are joined by four different educators from across our ESU network as they share about the work they do on behalf of the students and school systems that they serve in our state. The pod opens with a conversation about paraprofessionals with ESU 9's Joe Haney. Part two of the pod takes us to the ESU 4 region where Sally Scheiner explains the unique partnership between ESU 4 and NDE that supports the Nebraska Center for the Education of Children who are Blind or Visually Impaired. Part three features Jean Anderson of ESU 10 and Brittany Shackleton of ESU 2 as they explain Part C services, Part B services, and the supports that the ESU special services provide learners with special needs from birth to age 21.

In this episode, Kellen Conroy of ESU 1, Marci Ostmeyer of ESU 7, and Alison Smith of ESU 16 share about the work being done by the ESU staff development affiliate in our state. The pod begins with Kellen explaining what SDA is and how it functions as an intermediary between the Nebraska Department of Education and the local districts. Marci Ostmeyer then joins us for part two of the episode to discuss the ESU SIMPL process, which is instrumental in helping districts self-assess, identify, and then address (with ESU support) the needs in their respective systems. Finally, Alison Smith goes into further detail regarding the day-to-day life of an SDA member in support of the diverse needs of the numerous districts her ESU supports.

In each episode of this series, we chat with educators from different ESUs across Nebraska to learn more about how they serve and support the school systems in their respective regions of the state. This conversation focuses on the topic of social-emotional learning and wellness and features Jen McNally of ESU 5, Theresa Ritta-Olson of ESU 10, and Lynne Herr of ESU 6. Each of these ESU colleagues shares insights about the work they do in support of SEL and wellness on behalf of educators and learners in their area schools. Link to Jen McNally's Wellness Printables (from Part 1 of the pod) Link to Lynne Herr's "Take Care of You" Slide Deck (from Part 3 of the pod)

This episode is the first in a series of pods dedicated to highlighting the local and collective efforts the Nebraska ESUs are making in service to education in Nebraska. Each week, we will focus on a topic and showcase the current conversations and work being done in that area. Episode 1 takes a look at ed-tech and the breadth of the ESUs statewide support, ranging from pairing tech integration with instructional best practices (Dr. Lynne Herr, of ESU 6 - 0:00) to the Canvas Consortium and districtwide LMS implementation (Shara Johnson of ESU 2 - 22:00) and the latest on Cyber Security in Nebraska schools (Bill Pulte of ESU3 - 35:40). We hope you enjoy this pod and the entire series!

Laurie Smith, 4th-grade teacher at Sumner-Eddyville-Miller Elementary, was recently recognized by the National Rural Education Association as the National Rural Teacher of the Year. In this episode, Jack Moles, the executive director of NRCSA (the Nebraska Rural Community Schools Association) joins Laurie for an insightful conversation about teaching, leading, and fostering relationships in the rural school setting. Learn more about NRCSA on their website NRCSA.net.