Leading Voices Podcast

Aug 12 2024 14 ep. 28 mins 3
Leading Voices Podcast artwork

WestEd’s experts, along with leading scholars and practitioners in the fields of education and human development, discuss ways to help every learner to thrive in school, career, and life— from educator well-being and racial disparities to evidence-based approaches to research, evaluation, professional learning, and technical assistance. In each brief episode, host Danny Torres welcomes WestEd’s leading and emerging voices to discuss the most pressing and enduring issues in education and health and human development. Drawing from evidence, research, and extensive experience, guests offer innovative and actionable strategies for ensuring success for every learner.

  Education
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Early Signs of Distress: Identifying and Implementing Systemic Improvements

Aug 12 2024 42 mins  
How can district and state leaders identify signs of school distress long before they are designated as in need of improvement by state accountability systems? In 2020, WestEd partnered with the National Charter School Resource Center (NCSRC) to develop and conduct a portfolio of research (listed below) that identified signs of early distress in schools, or "indicators of distress,

Preventing Gun Violence in the United States

Jul 22 2024 29 mins  
Gun violence impacts families, first responders, and communities in profound and lasting ways. In 2023, more than 18,000 persons died by homicide in the United States. And on June 26th, 2024, the U.S. Surgeon General declared gun violence a public health crisis. In this episode of the Leading Voices podcast, host Danny Torres talks with experts from WestEd’s Justice and Preventi

Cultivating Belonging, Inclusive Spaces, and Reflective Practices

May 22 2024 26 mins  
Early childhood practitioners face various challenges in the field, including staffing shortages, lack of funding for programs and professional development, and insufficient cultural representation in the workforce. In this episode of the Leading Voices podcast, host Grace Westermann talks with Monica Mathur-Kalluri, Project Director within WestEd’s Early Childhood Intervention,

The Critical Role of Early Intervention

Apr 10 2024 22 mins  
In this episode of the Leading Voices podcast, host Danny Torres talks with Angela McGuire, Project Director within WestEd’s Early Childhood Intervention, Mental Health, and Inclusion team under Early Childhood Development and Learning. Angela leads the Comprehensive Early Intervention Technical Assistance Network (CEITAN), which has supported the professional growth of early chi

Accelerating Literacy Learning with Reading Apprenticeship

Feb 16 2024 28 mins  
With national literacy scores in decline and with the loss of instruction time during the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for effective literacy professional learning for teachers and engaging students equitably is more important than ever. For over 25 years, Reading Apprenticeship at WestEd has improved teaching practice and helped thousands of students achieve high levels of academic

Helping State Agencies Build and Modernize Integrated Data Systems

Jan 24 2024 18 mins  
States are working to build and modernize integrated data systems to help public agencies better understand and respond to the needs of students, families, and communities, which is critical in the post COVID-19 era. To integrate data from across sectors effectively, states need to consider many legal and technical challenges as well as data privacy concerns and system security. In

How States Can Attract and Sustain Teachers

Nov 17 2023 17 mins  
Teachers are leaving the educator workforce at alarming rates, and the trend has intensified in recent years. Why are teachers leaving and what are some ways state education leaders can help districts retain them and attract new teachers? In this episode, host Marley Arechiga talks with Caitlin Beatson, Deputy Director of the Region 2 Comprehensive Center at WestEd, and Kate Wright

Building on a Solid Foundation

Oct 25 2023 35 mins  
In this episode, Danny Torres talks with WestEd’s new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Jannelle Kubinec, and former CEO Glen Harvey, who stepped down in 2023 after 26 years at the helm. Jannelle Kubinec brings over 24 years of experience transforming outcomes for children, youth, and their families through research, policy, and technical assistance. Her insights on WestEd’s whole

Advancing Evidence-Based Practices in the REL West and Northwest Regions

Oct 17 2023 26 mins  
In this episode, Danny Torres talks with Dr. Katie Drummond, Director of the Regional Educational Laboratory (REL) Northwest, and Dr. John Rice, Director of the Regional Educational Laboratory (REL) West. Their conversation covers a range of topics, including: Addressing effects of the pandemic in the REL West and REL Northwest regions Partnering with community-based organizations

How Students Can Help Shape School Climate Policy and Practice

Jul 27 2023 23 mins  
Many schools are working to better support students’ physiological, social, and emotional growth in addition to their cognitive development as a part of their school improvement efforts. Moreover, students are playing a key role in helping education leaders develop and implement new policies and practices. In this episode, Danny Torres (host) and Grace Westermann (co-host) talk w