Old School, New School

In this episode, we talk to Jean-Michel Oblette about his time as a “Difficult Student” and his current approaches to Gamification in his grade 2 classroom. We also get into what it means to be the teacher you wish you had when you were a student.Jean-Michel has taught Primary French Immersion at Kerrisdale Elementary in Vancouver for 14 years, and before that, he taught high school French in the UK. In addition to all that, he runs a roleplaying games club during lunchtime and gamifies most of what he teaches.Jean-Michel wrote his Masters thesis on Gamification in the French Immersion Classroom.Follow Claren Academy on X and Instagram: @clarenacademyLearn more about Claren Academy atwww.clarenacademy.orgOld School, New School deconstructs success stories through the lens of education. This podcast delves into pedagogy, leadership, and teaching best practices, as well as entrepreneurship, career development, and post-secondary education. Listeners will be interested to see how many different social, psychological, and environmental factors come into play when we analyze our school experiences. Whether you’re interested in teaching, education policy, parenting, or self-improvement, this podcast has a little of everything. Claren Academy’s leadership is constantly fielding questions about why they created a new school. We hope that this podcast will shine a light on factors that help us reexamine old schools and what it means to deliver a future-ready education.

In this episode, we talk to Bryon Carpenter about his journey from being a student who struggled with Language Arts to being a research scientist for a pharmaceutical company in Langley, BC. Of course, since he’s now a high school teacher in Abbotsford, BC, we also get into what led to that career jump and how his experience as a student shapes his approach to teaching.In addition to teaching at the Abbotsford Virtual School in Abbotsford, BC, Bryon Carpenter serves as Vice-president on the executive board for British Columbia’s Provincial Middle Years and Intermediate Teacher’s Association (myPITA). He also hosts Fresh Air at Five, a popular teaching podcast in which he shares key takeaways from different education podcasts.Follow Bryon on X: @BryonCarCheck out the work myPITA does athttps://www.mypita.ca/ Follow Claren Academy on X and Instagram: @clarenacademyLearn more about Claren Academy atwww.clarenacademy.orgOld School, New School deconstructs success stories through the lens of education. This podcast delves into pedagogy, leadership, and teaching best practices, as well as entrepreneurship, career development, and post-secondary education. Listeners will be interested to see how many different social, psychological, and environmental factors come into play when we analyze our school experiences. Whether you’re interested in teaching, education policy, parenting, or self-improvement, this podcast has a little of everything. Claren Academy’s leadership is constantly fielding questions about why they created a new school. We hope that this podcast will shine a light on factors that help us reexamine old schools and what it means to deliver a future-ready education.

In this episode, we have an interesting discussion with Zoe Si about her origin story from her career in law to how she became a celebrated artist, illustrator, and writer. Key themes in the discussion include the work that goes into living a creative life and how a developing sense of belonging can become a superpower. Follow Zoe on Instagram @zoesees Check out Zoe’s Substack: https://zoesi.substack.com/ Zoe Si is a Pulitzer Prize-nominated cartoonist, illustrator, and writer with a lifelong passion for laughing at her own jokes. She believes in the power of words, but also that wherever words fail, a cartoon can usually succeed. Zoe practiced law for a number of years and now spends her days contributing cartoons and articles to The New Yorker, working on a graphic novel, and making children’s books. She lives in Vancouver, British Columbia with her husband and a large, fluffy dog. In her spare time, she enjoys running around outside and petting other people’s dogs. Zoe acknowledges that she lives and works on the traditional and unceded territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ilwətaɁɬ (Tsleil-waututh) Nations. Follow Claren Academy on Twitter/X and Instagram: @clarenacademy www.clarenacademy.org Old School, New School deconstructs success stories through the lens of education. This podcast delves into pedagogy, leadership, and teaching best practices, as well as entrepreneurship, career development, and post-secondary education. Listeners will be interested to see how many different social, psychological, and environmental factors come into play when we analyze our school experiences. Whether you’re interested in teaching, education policy, parenting, or self-improvement, this podcast has a little of everything.  Claren Academy’s leadership is constantly fielding questions about why they created a new school. We hope that this podcast will shine a light on factors that help us reexamine old schools and what it means to deliver a future-ready education.

In this special Summer episode, we talk to Darren Gates about how leadership, for entrepreneurs and educators, can hinge on one’s authenticity.  Darren Gates has been in the restaurant business for many years. He owns and runs Mario’s Kitchen and Gracie’s Next Door in Tsawwassen, British Columbia. Visit: https://marioskitchen.ca/ Follow Claren Academy on Twitter/X and Instagram: @clarenacademy www.clarenacademy.org Old School, New School deconstructs success stories through the lens of education. This podcast delves into pedagogy, leadership, and teaching best practices, as well as entrepreneurship, career development, and post-secondary education. Listeners will be interested to see how many different social, psychological, and environmental factors come into play when we analyze our school experiences. Whether you’re interested in teaching, education policy, parenting, or self-improvement, this podcast has a little of everything.  Claren Academy’s leadership is constantly fielding questions about why they created a new school. We hope that this podcast will shine a light on factors that help us reexamine old schools and what it means to deliver a future-ready education.

In this episode, we talk to Kat Reilly about how her love of reading, especially poetry, set her on the path to a career in law. This conversation gets to the heart of what goes into making a great lawyer. Spoiler alert: it’s reading. A lot of reading. Katherine Reilly is Legal Counsel at the BC Ministry of Attorney General and was formerly a litigator for one of the biggest Canadian legal firms. She’s also a podcaster, hosting a show called The Days Are Long, which explores the experience of parenthood. She is a founding member of the Claren Academy Society board of directors, where she used her legal expertise and long-range thinking to set the school up with solid and thorough foundational policies. She’s no longer on our board but is still an active advocate for Claren Academy and progressive education in general. She’s got a lot in common with our other Kat (Sykes) - love of cats, love of reading, and love of fostering the success of underrepresented groups in leadership.   Follow Claren Academy on Twitter/X and Instagram: @clarenacademy www.clarenacademy.org Old School, New School deconstructs success stories through the lens of education. This podcast delves into pedagogy, leadership, and teaching best practices, as well as entrepreneurship, career development, and post-secondary education. Listeners will be interested to see how many different social, psychological, and environmental factors come into play when we analyze our school experiences. Whether you’re interested in teaching, education policy, parenting, or self-improvement, this podcast has a little of everything.  Claren Academy’s leadership is constantly fielding questions about why they created a new school. We hope that this podcast will shine a light on factors that help us reexamine old schools and what it means to deliver a future-ready education.

In this episode, we talk to Janet Loewen about her experience growing up with a First Nations mother who went through residential schools and a German father who didn’t want her to attend college because she might “take away a job from a man.” And that’s only the beginning… Janet Loewen is a Senior National Sales Manager with Oribe (hair care, makeup, body care, fragrance) in Canada. Janet teaches her team to be emotionally intelligent relationship builders who bring opportunity to others. She is an expert in hair care, commerce, group dynamics and so much more, not in spite of, but because of her unconventional path to success. Follow Claren Academy on Twitter/X and Instagram: @clarenacademy www.clarenacademy.org Old School, New School deconstructs success stories through the lens of education. This podcast delves into pedagogy, leadership, and teaching best practices, as well as entrepreneurship, career development, and post-secondary education. Listeners will be interested to see how many different social, psychological, and environmental factors come into play when we analyze our school experiences. Whether you’re interested in teaching, education policy, parenting, or self-improvement, this podcast has a little of everything.  Claren Academy’s leadership is constantly fielding questions about why they created a new school. We hope that this podcast will shine a light on factors that help us reexamine old schools and what it means to deliver a future-ready education.

In this episode, we talk to John Lok about the importance of modelling strength and resilience. Later in the chat, we discuss the role a guidance counsellor played in leading his school through tragedy and teaching John about the kind of leader he could strive to be.  John Lok is an educational leader and senior administrator with over 10 years of experience in developing and sustaining non-profit educational organizations. He has headed and served as an advisor in schools with diverse settings, students, and curricula. John has a passion for individual learning needs and the whole child. With that, he volunteers in extra-curricular teaching and parent education. John is one of the earliest supporters of Claren Academy, as an advisor, a former board member, and a constant example of teaching with purpose and love.  Follow Claren Academy on Twitter/X and Instagram: @clarenacademy www.clarenacademy.org Old School, New School deconstructs success stories through the lens of education. This podcast delves into pedagogy, leadership, and teaching best practices, as well as entrepreneurship, career development, and post-secondary education. Listeners will be interested to see how many different social, psychological, and environmental factors come into play when we analyze our school experiences. Whether you’re interested in teaching, education policy, parenting, or self-improvement, this podcast has a little of everything.  Claren Academy’s leadership is constantly fielding questions about why they created a new school. We hope that this podcast will shine a light on factors that help us reexamine old schools and what it means to deliver a future-ready education.

Old School, New School deconstructs success stories through the lens of education. In this episode, we talk to Josh Crone about the ways hard work and perseverance found their way into his formative years in school…and on the job. Josh Crone (@twojayjitsu), a proud member of the First Nations, has over 20 years of coaching, martial arts, and strength and conditioning experience with a foundation in team sports - hockey, lacrosse, basketball and volleyball. Among Josh’s most notable sports achievements are founding Vancouver’s Flow Martial Arts academy, winning the Canadian national championship for field lacrosse as team captain, league all-star, and scoring champion and being an inductee in the city of Cambridge, Ontario (hometown) sports hall of fame. Josh is presently a second-degree black belt in Shotokan karate and a brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Josh also serves as Fitness Advisor to Claren Academy, infusing the curriculum with the applied resilience, respect, and joy of sport. Follow Claren Academy on Twitter/X and Instagram: @clarenacademy www.clarenacademy.org Old School, New School deconstructs success stories through the lens of education. This podcast delves into pedagogy, leadership, and teaching best practices, as well as entrepreneurship, career development, and post-secondary education. Listeners will be interested to see how many different social, psychological, and environmental factors come into play when we analyze our school experiences. Whether you’re interested in teaching, education policy, parenting, or self-improvement, this podcast has a little of everything.  Claren Academy’s leadership is always fielding questions about why they created a new school. We hope that this podcast will shine a light on factors that help us reexamine old schools and what it means to deliver a future-ready education.

Old School, New School deconstructs success stories through the lens of education. In this episode, we talk to Gary Little about how he approaches the balance between the Science and Art of teaching. Gary Little is a former associate superintendent with the Vancouver School Board and a former director of the International Baccalaureate Educator Program at UBC. As for now, he‘s an author, an athlete, and will never stop being a teacher and a student. Gary mentors educational leaders, including Tracy Gates of Claren Academy, and advises parents, teachers, and schools on the importance of letting kids try, fail, and try again, all in the process of building resilience.  Follow Claren Academy on Twitter/X and Instagram: @clarenacademy www.clarenacademy.org This podcast delves into pedagogy, leadership, and teaching best practices, as well as entrepreneurship, career development, and post-secondary education. Listeners will be interested to see how many different social, psychological, and environmental factors come into play when we analyze our school experiences. Whether you’re interested in teaching, education policy, parenting, or self-improvement, this podcast has a little of everything.  Claren Academy’s leadership is always fielding questions about why they created a new school. We hope that this podcast will shine a light on factors that help us reexamine old schools and what it means to deliver a future-ready education.

Old School, New School deconstructs success stories through the lens of education. In this episode, we talk to Rob Peregoodoff about what it takes to individualize instruction in the current educational landscape. A Math and Language Arts teacher by training in such diverse locations as Eswatini (Swaziland) and the Kainai Reserve in Rob'sta, Rob's career turned 90 degrees into administration while working in the United Arab Emirates when Ramadan crept into his teaching practice. Upon returning to Canada, he joined the UBC Sauder School of Business first as Manager of Learning Technologies and then as Director of Learning Services, where he gladly took on the challenge of teaching and learning innovation for a research-intensive business school into the paradigm of the new B-school reality for 14 years. Rob now offers consultation and strategic planning for senior leaders of educational institutions worldwide, focusing on digital assessment and how to leverage A/I as an advantage, not a threat. Rob also serves on The Claren Academy Society Board, volunteering his time and skills for the benefit of progressive, accessible education. Follow Claren Academy on Twitter/X and Instagram: @clarenacademy www.clarenacademy.org This podcast delves into pedagogy, leadership, and teaching best practices, as well as entrepreneurship, career development, and post-secondary education. Listeners will be interested to see how many different social, psychological, and environmental factors come into play when we analyze our school experiences. Whether you're interested in teaching, education policy, parenting, or self-improvement, this podcast has a little of everything.  Claren Academy's leadership is always fielding questions about why they created a new school. We hope this podcast will illuminate factors that help us reexamine old schools and what it means to deliver a future-ready education.

Old School, New School deconstructs success stories through the lens of education. In this episode, we talk to Krista Parham about the importance of letting kids be themselves, de-emphasizing competition, and finding the “Joy in Being Awful.”.  Krista Parham is a senior user researcher with a popular mobile gaming company called Kabam. In that role, Krista brings psychological principles and science to game development to build a bridge between the player experience and game design, helping to create experiences that millions of players worldwide enjoy. Enjoyment is something that Krista takes seriously - she is an avid appreciator of music, books, movies, and games, and amplifies the media she loves with her own writing, connections, and contagious enthusiasm. Krista’s command of history and data analysis, along with her growth mindset and nonstop curiosity make her the ultimate learner, with valuable insight on how to foster that spark and spread that joy in our students and ourselves.  Follow Claren Academy on Twitter/X and Instagram @clarenacademy www.clarenacademy.org Old School, New School deconstructs success stories through the lens of education. This podcast delves into pedagogy, leadership, and teaching best practices, as well as entrepreneurship, career development, and post-secondary education. Listeners will be interested to see how many different social, psychological, and environmental factors come into play when we analyze our school experiences. Whether you’re interested in teaching, education policy, parenting, or self-improvement, this podcast has a little of everything.  Claren Academy’s leadership is constantly fielding questions about why they created a new school. We hope that this podcast will shine a light on factors that help us reexamine old schools and what it means to deliver a future-ready education.

Old School, New School deconstructs success stories through the lens of education. In this episode, we talk to Ryan Black about education’s less talked-about influences on a person’s success: electives and extra-curriculars. Ryan Black is a seasoned tech lawyer at DLA Piper, one of the world's largest law firms. His practice focuses on a wide range of legal matters, including M&A, employment, intellectual property, startups, and commercial contracts, primarily for video game, consumer, and other child-facing clients. A former adjunct professor at law school and a sought-after speaker within the legal community, Ryan is a champion of future-focused education models that foster resilient learners. He's a firm believer in Claren Academy's mission to make quality education accessible to all, regardless of background. In addition to serving as a director at Claren, Ryan holds leadership roles at his firm. He sits on the National Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisory Committee, co-founded the firm's Emerging Growth and Venture Capital group, and co-leads the Gaming and Gambling pillar of the Media, Sports, and Entertainment sector. He also holds board positions with the Video Game Bar Association and the Vancouver Fireworks Festival Society. When he's not immersed in these roles, Ryan is an avid gamer, early tech adopter, and film aficionado. Ryan also serves as a member of The Claren Society Board. Follow Claren Academy on Twitter/X and Instagram: @clarenacademy www.clarenacademy.org Old School, New School deconstructs success stories through the lens of education. This podcast delves into pedagogy, leadership, and teaching best practices, as well as entrepreneurship, career development, and post-secondary education. Listeners will be interested to see how many different social, psychological, and environmental factors come into play when we analyze our school experiences. Whether you’re interested in teaching, education policy, parenting, or self-improvement, this podcast has a little of everything.  Claren Academy’s leadership is constantly fielding questions about why they created a new school. We hope that this podcast will shine a light on factors that help us reexamine old schools and what it means to deliver a future-ready education.

Old School, New School deconstructs success stories through the lens of education. In this episode, we talk to Kathryn Sykes about going from being the type of person who avoids hard things to being the type of person who seeks them out. Kathryn Sykes is the co-founder and Executive Director of Claren Academy, an independent K-7 school in Vancouver, British Columbia. Kathryn is a Registered Social Worker with over 20 years of experience in non-profit organizations. She is one of the founders of Claren Academy and is an active presence in all areas of the school - except the actual teaching. Kathryn is the chair of the board of directors, as well as part of the administrative team, working closely with the Principal and the Director of Admissions. In her spare time, she reads books, enjoys live music, and gets asked a lot about why she started a school.  Follow Claren Academy on Twitter/X and Instagram: @clarenacademy www.clarenacademy.org This podcast delves into pedagogy, leadership, and teaching best practices, as well as entrepreneurship, career development, and post-secondary education. Listeners will be interested to see how many different social, psychological, and environmental factors come into play when we analyze our school experiences. Whether you’re interested in teaching, education policy, parenting, or self-improvement, this podcast has a little of everything.  Claren Academy’s leadership is constantly fielding questions about why they created a new school. We hope that this podcast will shine a light on factors that help us reexamine old schools and what it means to deliver a future-ready education.

Old School, New School deconstructs success stories through the lens of education. This podcast delves into pedagogy, leadership, and teaching best practices, as well as entrepreneurship, career development, and post-secondary education. Listeners will be interested to see how many different social, psychological, and environmental factors come into play when we analyze our school experiences. Whether you’re interested in teaching, education policy, parenting, or self-improvement, this podcast has a little of everything.  Claren Academy’s leadership is constantly fielding questions about why they created a new school. We hope that this podcast will shine a light on factors that help us reexamine old schools and what it means to deliver a future-ready education. Follow Claren Academy on Twitter/X and Instagram: @clarenacademy ⁠www.clarenacademy.org⁠