Educational discussion with MyEdExpert founder Suzy Pepper Rollins

Making School a Nicer Place A Conversation with Jeff Kubiak Jeff Kubiak is out to make school a nicer, kinder place. An elementary teacher-turned-principal, Jeff didn't just struggle in school - he hated the place. One teacher turned him around...and he's still thanking her. What a pleasure this podcast guest is! He believes that school (and the world) can be changed by "random dr

Stations in the Fast Lane! By Suzy Pepper Rollins Stations can be one of the most impactful instructional frameworks for student-centered learning. Student autonomy, creative thinking, vocabulary development, student engagement– the potential benefits can be almost awe-inspiring. But stations can also be a bit misleading. Students APPEAR to be digging in on the task, but are th

What it Feels Like to Have ADHD A Conversation with Kevin J. Roberts What’s it like to have ADHD? Consider some of the traits: difficulty staying on task, distractibility, trouble sitting still, and poor organizational skills. Now, let’s place these students in a school setting in which success largely depends on being able to: sit in a desk, pay attention, be organized, and s

The Teenage Brain & How a “Fist Bump” Might Just Help A Conversation with Terence Houlihan As a classroom teacher and school counselor, Terence Houlihan became fascinated with the teenage brain. This unique time in their lives is one of great change – how can we help them survive…better yet, thrive during this time? Terence shares some fascinating research, such as how the

Got Stress? The Zen Teacher is On Call… A Conversation with Dan Tricarico A teacher for over 25 years, Dan Tricarico loves his work, even views his classroom as a sanctuary of sorts. Teachers like Dan are passionate people. He, like most of us, chose this career to positively impact the world. Think about it. All the students in our classrooms have their own “stories” as Dan

What Would Captain Kirk Do? Leadership Lessons from Star Trek A Conversation with Jon Wennstrom Jon Wennstrom is a talented, experienced school leader; in fact, he was the 2018 Michigan PTA Principal of the Year. Wisdom, perspective, and a passion for the work is what he brings to the podcast this week. As a kid, Jon watched Star Trek with his dad. He observed philosophies of lead

The G Word: A New Film Project About What It’s Like to Be Gifted A Conversation with Marc Smolowitz Marc Smolowitz is an award-winning film maker with over 50 successful films in his portfolio. His new project is called The G Word, which discusses the economic, cultural, and gender diversity of our nation’s gifted and talented population. Marc’s film highlights the educati

Lessons Learned From a Turnaround Principal A Conversation with Dr. Scott Neil Dr. Scott Neil has a passion for struggling learners…because he was one. His career morphed into being a top turnaround principal, and he’s uncovered some truths along the way. A key point of our conversation is this: A high number of students being flagged for interventions may indicate the need to

Social Media and Student Communication: A Compelling Perspective A Conversation with Angela Stockman Rather than viewing social media as an inhibitor to our teaching, Angela Stockman makes a compelling case for embracing this medium as a teaching tool. Truly an innovative thought leader, her perspective on opening new “corridors of learning” for students by utilizing technolo

Bringing the Wonder of Math to Students A Conversation with Jerry Burkhart Math is so much more than pacing guides and practice sheets. If that’s the world you have found yourself in, totally understandable… but here’s some first aid! Jerry Burkhart is about math adventure, creativity, and wonderment. He is a math treasure who works with districts to create tasks that move s