Visionaries
In our exclusive interviews, hear what some extraordinary public education advocates have to say about what it takes to give all children the opportunity for success in the 21st century.Interviews with
Leading Educators
Hear educators discuss what they are doing, and what needs to be done, to ensure all children the chance to succeed in school:
- Award-Winning Civics Teacher and City Council Member Cheryl Cook-Kallio talks about the importance of civic education and what she does to help her students become engaged citizens. (October 28, 2008)
- John Stanford International School Teachers share the secrets of their Spanish and Japanese language immersion programs' success. (October 10, 2008)
- Georgia Principal Jill Goforth stresses the importance of content knowledge in developing critical and higher-order thinking skills -- particularly for disadvantaged children. (August 28, 2008)
- 2007 National Superintendent of the Year Krista Parent describes how community engagement, a district-wide focus on literacy, and powerful professional development have transformed South Lane School District. (August 4, 2008)
- National Teacher of the Year Michael Geisen discusses issues including the support teachers receive (or should receive) and how he personalizes teaching to foster a life-long love of learning while increasing standardized test scores. (July 16, 2008)
- Retired National PTA Executive Director Warlene Gary reflects on her 35-year career in education, her commitment to equity, and the "paralysis of analysis" that hampers education reform discussions. (July 11, 2008)
- Retired AASA Executive Director Paul Houston reflects on his legacy at AASA and shares his thoughts on the good, bad and ugly of school reform. (July 1, 2008)
- Former Boston Superintendent Tom Payzant speaks about the importance of "A Broader, Bolder Approach to Education" and shares his conviction that all sectors of society must work together to ensure all children have access to quality educational experiences. (June 20, 2008)
- All-Star Teacher Luajean Bryan describes her innovative work with hands-on learning projects and shares her strategies for overcoming common challenges to bringing such projects into the classroom. (June 17 and 19, 2008)
- Award-Winning Principal Tamala Newsome describes her school's eco-friendly construction and its integral place in the low-income community it serves. (May 5, 2008)
- Environmental Science Teacher Gary Swick describes how he uses the outdoors to engage his students in both science and active environmental protection. (April 18, 2008)
- West Philadelphia High School Teacher Simon Hauger describes a program that has inner-city high-schoolers outperforming MIT graduate students as builders of eco-friendly cars. (April 11, 2008)
- New Jersey Principal Mimi Bair talks about her successes in using arts education to raise student achievement. (March 20, 2008)
- Port Chester Educators Carmen Macchia and Michael De Vito tell the remarkable story of how middle school educators turned their school around by transforming its climate, academic program, and professional culture. (March 11, 2008)
- Alaska Educator LeeAnn Galusha discusses the Chugach School District's nationally recognized personalized approach to education. (February 25, 2008)
Best-Selling Authors
Hear authors describe their ideas for improving public education:
- Former Urban League President and Author Hugh Price urges educators to involve communities in sustained efforts to celebrate the academic achievements of all students. (July 23, 2008)
- Celebrated Author Dave Eggers talks about his community-based writing tutorial programs, strategies for motivating reluctant writers, and his plans to advocate for public school teachers through film. (May 20, 22, and 27)
- Best-Selling Author Richard Louv argues that adults neglect of the outdoors has spawned "nature deficit disorder" in children and offers suggestions for getting young people outside. (April 22, 2008)
- Children's Literature Laureate Jon Scieszka speaks about his efforts to encourage boys to read, as well as about his plans as the first national laureate for children's literature. (March 6, 2008)
- Top-Selling Children's Author Joseph Bruchac discusses strategies to help struggling readers and combats stereotypes of American Indians in children's literature. (March 3, 2008)
- Acclaimed Author Dan Pink argues that the requirements of the new "conceptual age" require schools and communities to develop the right-brains of students. (February 27, 2008)
Top Researchers
Learn what leading researchers believe works - and doesn't work - in educating our most vulnerable students:
- International Assessment Guru Andreas Schleicher reveals common education policies and practices among nations that top comparisons of international achievement. (September 24, 2008)
- Nobel Prize-Winning Economist James Heckman discusses the influence of non-cognitive skills on student success both within and beyond school. (June 27, 2008)
- Duke University Professor Helen Ladd argues that policymakers must create both in-school and out-of-school supports for improving educational opportunities available to disadvantaged youth. (June 24, 2008)
- NYU Professor Pedro Noguera talks about the need for a "Broader, Bolder Approach" to education. (June 16, 2008)
- Leading Adolescent Literacy Expert Don Deshler urges schools to make adolescent literacy a priority and offers ideas on how to address the needs of struggling adolescent readers. (March 13, 2008)
- Distinguished Michigan State Professor Yong Zhao speaks about the skills youth need in a global society and the danger of uncritically following China's educational lead. (February 20, 2008)
Other High-Profile Advocates
Hear what other advocates say about specific issues in public education today:
- UAE Education Minister Dr. Hanif Hassan describes his country's massive education reform project and emphasizes the need to teach tolerance in a land of diversity. (October 6, 2008)
- Finnish Education Expert Reijo Laukkanen discusses the factors behind his country’s success on international education assessments. (September 29, 2008)
- Core Knowledge Foundation Chair E.D. Hirsch describes a new K-2 reading program that focuses on both phones and content knowledge. (September 2, 2008)
- Harvard Professor and Cultural Critic Henry Louis Gates, Jr. describes his idea to revolutionize the way we teach history and science to African American students by having them trace their family histories through genealogy and DNA research. (August 19, 2008)
- Record-Breaking Polar Explorer Will Steger argues that the surprising pace of global climate change offers an unparalleled opportunity to motivate students on environmental science issues. (April 15, 2008)
- Emmy Award-Winning Documentary Filmmaker Robin Smith talks about her film "Come Walk in My Shoes" and argues that the history of the civil rights movement reminds young people that they can change the world. (April 4, 2008)
- Fitness Legend Richard Simmons discusses the importance of physical education and his campaign to get it back into schools. (March 27, 2008)
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"Transformation Helps Close the Gap, Inspires Performance"
How does a poor minority student fare in a wealthy, predominantly white school? Thanks to Rockville Centre School District's personal approach, very well. But that hasn't always been the case. In this suburban Long Island school district, nearly 77 percent of the students are white and live in upper-middle-class households. Twenty percent of the students are African American or Latino, many of whom are poor and live in subsidized housing. Several years ago, Rockville Centre uncovered a disturbing gap in educational achievement between wealthy white students and poor minority students despite the appearance of equal access to education.
Once the district discovered the problem, it introduced a more personalized approach to curriculum and instruction by eliminating tracking and introducing rigorous curriculum for all students in heterogeneous classes. Read more
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Visionaries
Click here to browse dozens of Public School Insights interviews with extraordinary education advocates, including: