Academic Distinctions: A Podcast to Make Sense of American Education

Hosted by Stephanie Melville and Zac Chase, "Academic Distinctions" is a podcast for educators that tackles the reading and research teachers often don't have time for. With experience as classroom teachers, district administrators, and federal policy wonks, the hosts bring a unique perspective to discussions on education's "greatest hits" and current events. The podcast is committed to delivering engaging, informative, and actionable content that is relevant and responsive to the needs of educators.

Contributors

Host

Stephanie Melville

Stephanie is a K-12 Data Science Education Impact Fellow for the Federation of American Scientists, formerly placed with the US Department of Education. Before that, she served her local school district as a Central Office High School Math Coach, where she increased access to STEM courses, providing flexible pathways to graduation, and paving the way to meet industry demands. Before that, she taught middle and high school students mathematics and statistics. Her greatest hope is to see equitable education policy put into place that makes data science and statistics a non-negotiable part of curricula, allowing historically excluded populations to gain entry to fields in which their voices are desperately needed.

Host

Zac Chase

Zac brings a wealth of experience to discussions on essential educational reading and research. With a background that includes classroom teaching, district administration, and work in state and federal policy, Zac offers a unique and practical perspective on the key issues and foundational knowledge relevant to educators today. He's worked with schools and school systems across four continents, specializing in creating more humane, inquiry-driven, project-based curricula responsive to local and global contexts.

He's also a dad to two great kids in a house with two dogs, four chickens, and more fish than he can count.

http://autodizactic.com

Guests

Guest

Diana Laufenberg

For 16 years Diana was a secondary social studies teacher in Wisconsin, Kansas, Arizona and Pennsylvania. She most recently taught at the Science Leadership Academy in Philadelphia, an inquiry-driven, project-based high school focused on modern learning. Her practice has deep roots in experiential education, taking students from the classroom to the real world and back again. Prior to her work in Philadelphia, she was in Flagstaff, AZ where she was named Technology Teacher of the Year for Arizona and a member of the Governor's Master Teacher Corps. Diana was featured on TED.com for her “How to Learn? From Mistakes” and recognized for earning National Board Certification.

In 2013, Diana Laufenberg co-founded Inquiry Schools, a non-profit working to create and support student centered learning environments that are inquiry driven, project based and utilizing modern technology.

https://www.dlaufenberg.com/bl0g

Guest

Jon Becker, J.D., Ph.D.

After graduating cum laude from Duke University with a B.A. in Public Policy Studies in 1994, Jonathan Becker received a law degree and a master's degree in curriculum and instruction from Boston College Law School and the Boston College Graduate School of Education in 1997. Additionally, in May of 2003, he earned a Ph.D. in the Politics of Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. From September 2002 to August 2007, he was an assistant professor in the Department of Foundations, Leadership and Policy Studies in the School of Education and Allied Human Services at Hofstra University. After moving to Virginia Commonwealth University where he served as an assistant professor of educational leadership from 2007-2012, Becker became the director of innovation and online academic programs. Having done that from 2012 through 2017, he is now back in the Department of Educational Leadership at VCU as an associate professor.

https://soe.vcu.edu/about-us/directory/full-directory/jonathan-d-becker-jd-phd.html

Guest appearance on:

002: Head Start, What Makes a School Public, and Parents Opting Out of Inclusive Books

Guest

Meghan Whittaker

Meghan served as the Chief of Staff in the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services at the U.S. Department of Education. She also worked as the director of policy and advocacy at the National Center for Learning Disabilities. Meghan has experience serving as a legal advocate for incarcerated youth and as a therapist for children with academic, behavioral and emotional challenges. Meghan holds a JD and MSW from the Catholic University of America.