Join the Shifting Schools Community

Join the Shifting Schools Community

In the ever-changing landscape of education, we bring you to the forefront of school transformation and innovation. Welcome to Shifting Schools!  I’m Jeff Utecht, an educator of 24 years and full time educational consultant. Each week I’m joined by the fantastic Tricia Friedman who is a passionate 20 year veteran English teacher and consultant. Together, we unpack the biggest challenges […]

309: Nurturing Informed Citizens with CIVIX’s Dimitri Pavlounis

309: Nurturing Informed Citizens with CIVIX’s Dimitri Pavlounis

Explore the profound impacts of digital literacy and political engagement initiatives by CIVIX, and discover resources that can transform classrooms into hubs of critical thought and respectful discourse.  We sit down with Dimitri Pavlounis, the Director of Research at CIVIX. Our discussion unravels around two pivotal programs at CIVIX: CTRL-F and PoliTalks, which are meticulously crafted to bolster digital literacy […]

308: The Future of News Literacy: Educating in the Age of Artificial Intelligence with Erin Olsen

308: The Future of News Literacy: Educating in the Age of Artificial Intelligence with Erin Olsen

In this enlightening episode, we sit down with Erin Olsen, an advocate of news literacy and a representative from the News Literacy Project (NLP). Drawing from her rich experience as a middle and high school teacher, Erin shares a poignant anecdote that underscores the indispensable role of news literacy in every classroom. She delves into the importance of educators adopting […]

306: The Power of Purposeful Play with Dr. Kristen Craft

306: The Power of Purposeful Play with Dr. Kristen Craft

In this episode Dr. Kraft shatters misconceptions and reveals the power of gaming for building social-emotional skills. How can educators effectively integrate gaming into their SEL programs?  Are You Ready To Unlock the Power of Gaming? The power of gaming can be harnessed to forge strong peer connections among students. By instilling the elements of gaming in social-emotional learning, students […]

How do we bring brave beginners and bold early adopters together to explore AI Literacy?

How do we bring brave beginners and bold early adopters together to explore AI Literacy?

In this episode of the Shifting Schools podcast, you’ll join Tricia and Jeff as they dive into their recent experiences and reflections on AI and education. They’re excited to share the consulting work they’ve been doing and the innovative ways they’re incorporating AI into the classroom. Tricia discusses her passion for teaching creative writing and how she’s been using AI-generated […]

Episode 305: Stargazing for SEL with Swapna Krishna

Episode 305: Stargazing for SEL with Swapna Krishna

SWAPNA KRISHNA writes about space, science, and technology. You can find her at the YouTube channel Ad Astra, and her work has been published at outlets such as Wired, Engadget, The Verge, NPR, and Slate. Her new book provides a novel approach to mindfulness while learning more about science and history. Pocket Nature: Stargazing: Contemplate the Cosmos to Find Inner […]

304: What confidence is…and what it isn’t with Jennifer S. Miller

304: What confidence is…and what it isn’t with Jennifer S. Miller

For nearly thirty years, Jennifer Miller has worked with educators and families to help them become more effective with children through social and emotional learning (SEL). She authored and illustrated the book “Confident Parents, Confident Kids: Raising Emotional Intelligence In Ourselves and Our Kids” and founded the organization by the same name ten years ago growing an international platform through […]

303: Social Justice in Schools with Dr. Charles A. Barrett

303: Social Justice in Schools with Dr. Charles A. Barrett

On this week… We were so excited to have a conversation with Dr. Charles A. Barrett to dive deeper into his book: Social Justice in Schools A Framework for Equity in Education Our conversation explores: Ensuring equitable access to key opportunities Centering Relationships Reflecting on how to build community Find your copy: Via this link Learn about our special guest […]