This month we’re all being sent to the principal’s office! Play alongside educator-leaders Dr. Holly Blair and Jose Luis Navarro as we ask questions about the latest and not-so-greatest education news.

Laugh some, learn some, and grab a few nuggets of wisdom you can pass off as your own in our world-famous quiz games like Surfing the Education Headlines, and Education Data Points of the Month. Plus, test how many famous school principals you know from TV and movies in a special bonus game.

Quiz topics range from “Everyone is welcome here” banners, education funding freezes, and the Ten Commandments in schools, to college admissions, school board elections, and touchless salad bars in school cafeteria. Holly and Jose also offer terrific insights into the world of educational leadership. Listen closely – or Holly may sit you down in her office rocking chair and give you “the look.”

“If you’re an educator looking for some laughs, a sense of ‘I feel so seen’ via comedy and real talk on news and policy, THIS is the podcast for you!”

“I laughed a lot as I learned – this is a fun way to catch up on significant education news – and the insights from the guests are first-rate.”

ABOUT OUR GUESTS

Dr. Holly Blair is an educator, speaker, college professor and more. Currently, she serves as Executive Director of the Maine Principals Association, where she influences educational leadership on a statewide scale. She has served as an elementary and middle school-level teacher and principal, including meeting the unique challenges of being a teaching principal in some of Maine’s most remote and under-resourced schools. She’s also the author of You Are Number One – The Science and Reasons Behind Why We Remember Some of Our Teachers, Forever.

Jose Luis Navarro served for over 25 years in the Los Angeles education system in a variety of positions, including spearheading innovative initiatives to help turn around low-performing schools. He is National Board Certified and was honored as a California Teacher of the Year and Los Angeles Times Latino Educator of the Year. In 2011, he became the founding principal of the Social Justice Humanitas Academy, which earned several prestigious awards, including the National Community School Award and the Teacher Powered Schools National Award for Academic Excellence. He’s also a UC Distinguished Teacher and an adjunct professor at CSU Dominguez Hills, and he serves as a speaker and coach. More information at https://www.jlnavarro.com

ABOUT OUR HOSTS

Alex Kajitani is a California Teacher of the Year and author of several books for educators, including Owning It, and You're A Teacher Now. He is an inspiring and engaging speaker, the Rappin' Mathematician, coach, and creator of programs for students and teachers, including Multiplication Nation, Math Success Camp, and the "New Teacher Success" video series.

Paul Richman is a Grammy and Academy Award-winning artist who...Wait, hold on -- that's someone else. Actually, Paul is an all-purpose education policy guy who has served as a leader for several statewide education associations, coalitions and policy initiatives. He also produced the "Adventures in Ed Funding" and "Budgeting for Educational Equity" podcasts, and currently serves as an executive producer of the Inside California Education statewide TV series.

ABOUT OUR MUSIC

Tommy Dunbar is a musician, songwriter, and producer best known as the founder and lead guitarist of the power pop band The Rubinoos. His music can be heard in many films and TV shows, including Revenge

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Need an extra serving of laughter to help the latest education news go down a bit easier? In this month's quiz, play alongside special guest contestants Jannelle Kubinec and Kevin Gordon. Both are school finance and policy advocates who’ve played a vital role fighting for more education funding in California and nationally -- and both offer terrific insights into the issues facing public schools.

Laugh some, learn some and grab a few nuggets of wisdom you can pass off as your own in our quiz games like Surfing the Headlines, Education Data Points of the Month, Classroom Management Techniques, and True, False, or Whaaaaat? We ask questions about school vouchers, budget cuts, mobile devices in schools, carrying concealed weapons onto campus, perfect attendance, and more. Oh, and we pick on the State of Oklahoma again in this episode – why not?

“If you are an educator looking for laughs, a sense of “I feel so seen” via comedy and real talk on news/policy, THIS is the podcast for you!”

"I laughed a lot as I learned -- this is a fun way to catch up on significant education news -- and the insights from the guests are first-rate."

ABOUT OUR HOSTS

ALEX KAJITANI is a California Teacher of the Year and author of several books for educators, including "Owning It," and "You're A Teacher Now." He is an inspiring and engaging speaker, the Rappin' Mathematician, coach, and creator of powerful programs for students and teachers, including Multiplication Nation, Math Success Camp, and the "New Teacher Success" video series.

PAUL RICHMAN is a Grammy and Academy Award-winning artist who...Wait, hold on -- that's someone else. Actually, Paul is an all-purpose education policy guy who has served as a leader for several statewide education associations, coalitions and policy initiatives. He also produced the "Adventures in Ed Funding" and "Budgeting for Educational Equity" podcasts, and he currently serves as an executive producer of the Inside California Education statewide TV series.

ABOUT OUR GUESTS

KEVIN GORDON is widely viewed as one of the top education advocates in California. He is the President and a founding Partner of Capitol Advisors Group. Previously he served as the longtime Executive Director of the California Association of School Business Officials, and as the Chief Lobbyist and Assistant Executive Director of the California School Boards Association. He also served as Chief of Staff to Congressman Robert T. Matsui and as a legislative advocate for the California Building Industry Association (CBIA).

JANNELLE KUBINEC serves as Chief Executive Officer for WestEd. She brings over 20 years of experience transforming outcomes for children, youths, and their families through research, policy, and technical assistance. She has led major federally funded centers and is nationally recognized for her work related to school finance and effective resource allocation. Notable contributions include guiding California through a once-in-a-generation redesign and transformation of its K–12 funding formula and accountability system and serving as principal architect and manager of a diverse team of researchers and policy experts to craft the California Master Plan for Early Learning and Care.

ABOUT OUR MUSIC

Tommy Dunbar is a musician, songwriter, and producer best known as the founder and lead guitarist of the power pop band The Rubinoos. His music can be heard in many films and TV shows, including Revenge of the Nerds, Bachelor Party, Sex Education, Lizzie McGuire.

LEARN MORE:

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Play the education news quiz alongside special guest contestants Dr. Dorina Sackman-Ebuwa and Dr. Lindsey Jensen -- both State Teachers of the Year (just like Alex!) This month we celebrate graduation season with AI, inquire into recent federal education funding decisions, and contemplate whether the State of Oklahoma has more public schools or pot dispensaries.

So...laugh some, learn some, and grab a nugget or two of knowledge you can pass off as your own to impress your colleagues.

"If you are an educator looking for laughs, a sense of 'I feel so seen' via comedy and real talk on news/policy, THIS is the podcast for you!"

"This first episode was a lot of fun! Loved the enthusiasm and authority of the teachers of the year."

ABOUT OUR GUESTS

Dr. Lindsey Jensen is the 2018 Illinois Teacher of the Year and currently serves as the early career development and student director for the Illinois Education Association. She is a writer, musician, singer, speaker, and more. Reach out to her at IllinoisTeacheroftheyear@gmail.com

Dr. Dorina Sackman Ebuwa, affectionately known by her students as Miss Dorito, is the 2014 Florida Teacher of the Year, an award-winning multilingual learner educator, sought-after speaker, coach, creator of innovative professional development for educators, and more. Reach out to her via Dorinasackman.com.

ABOUT OUR HOSTS

Alex Kajitani is a California Teacher of the Year and author of several books for educators, including "Owning It," and "You're A Teacher Now." He is an inspiring and engaging speaker, the Rappin' Mathematician, coach, and creator of powerful programs for students and teachers, including Multiplication Nation, Math Success Camp, and the "New Teacher Success" video series.

Paul Richman is a Grammy and Academy Award-winning artist who...Wait, hold on. That's someone else's bio...Paul actually is an education policy guy who has produced the "Adventures in Ed Funding" and "Budgeting for Educational Equity" podcasts, and currently serves as an executive producer of the Inside California Education statewide TV series. Previously he served as a leader for several statewide education associations, coalitions and policy initiatives.

ABOUT OUR MUSIC

Tommy Dunbar is a musician, songwriter, and producer best known as the founder and lead guitarist of the power pop band The Rubinoos. His music can be heard in many films and TV shows, including Revenge of the Nerds, Bachelor Party, Sex Education, Lizzie McGuire. Additionally, Tommy has composed and produced catchy jingles and music for several major commercial brands.

LEARNING MORE (Because how can we have education in our show title and not provide some helpful resources?)

• One of the questions in this episode relates to U.S. Immigration and Enforcement (ICE) agents showing up at elementary schools in Los Angeles USD in an attempt to question young students. In this recent School ME podcast, Alice O’Brien and Lubna Alam from the National Education Association (NEA) legal team provided information and resources to help educators navigate the complex legal waters of the Trump administration's immigration policies.

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