Podcast Series: Innovations in Education

Explore the full series of eSchool News podcasts hosted by Kevin Hogan—created to keep you on the cutting edge of innovations in education.

Committee for Children Expands into Adult Education with New Social-Emotional Learning Program for K–12 Educators

Research-based professional development program strengthens educator soft skills and resilience to create a positive, supportive, and more equitable school climate for every child

SEATTLE – June 2, 2021, at 5:00 a.m. PT – Before the pandemic, teachers reported record stress levels and rates of leaving the profession were at an all-time high. After a tumultuous year of navigating remote learning and uncertainty, stress and burnout have spiked, pushing morale down even further and leading to a teacher shortage with real consequences.

However, research shows that when teachers are supported with social-emotional professional learning that addresses stress management and strengthens trust and relationships, they can create a foundation for resilience, are less likely to burn out, and are better able to reinforce social-emotional skills in their interactions with students throughout the year.…Read More

How Newport-Mesa Unified School District became closer by being apart

Jenith Mishne is a relentlessly positive person. Not even a global pandemic can dampen her enthusiasm when talking about her job as Director of Education Technology in the Newport-Mesa Unified School District (CA), where she serves 22,500 students at twenty-two elementary schools, two intermediate schools, four high schools, one alternative education center, and one adult education center.

In this conversation with eSchool News, Mishne finds the silver linings in the world’s largest beta test for remote learning—from device management to compassionate teacher professional development and better community communication. She also shares some of her thoughts about how education can grow from this tragedy.

Related content: How this district made the remote transition…Read More

Newly updated online community targets adult educators

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Vocational and Adult Education has enhanced its online professional learning community for adult educators, called the Literacy Information and Communication System (LINCS).

The website provides adult educators with access to resources; on-demand, web-based professional development opportunities, including online courses and targeted face-to-face trainings; and a connected network of practitioners. LINCS also offers specialized tools, including the ability for adult educators across the country to engage in real-time discussions.

The new and improved website offers a collection of high-quality, evidence-based online resources for adult educators and other practitioners within the adult education system. One of the site’s key features is the “LINCS Community,” which includes 16 topic-area groups. These virtual community groups provide an opportunity for those in the field to engage in topic-specific networking and information sharing activities. By engaging in a group, educators are able to share and obtain real-time answers to peer-driven questions based on their collective professional experiences.…Read More

Education Secretary Duncan responds to eSchool News readers

'Why are programs that put an emphasis on parents' education being eliminated?' asked one reader.

Recently, we asked eSchool News readers, via our daily newsletter, ‘What’s one question you’d like to ask U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan?’—and Sec. Duncan answered.

After reading our newsletter, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) contacted eSchool News and asked us to choose five reader questions for Duncan to address. We chose these five questions based on relevancy, general interest, and diversity of topic. While every question we received was worthy of a response, Duncan unfortunately could not answer them all.…Read More