Leading Voices Podcast

REMIQS Project and State School Accountability Systems

“We've essentially created a blueprint for these state education agencies to get a sense of how they could improve their data systems, how they could think through changing or modifying their current accountability frameworks, and how by identifying particular student groups who have been historically underserved and getting a better sense of their experiences and their outcomes in schools, all those things can really team to improve the system.” – Dr. Raifu Durodoye
Transcript
In this episode, host Danny Torres and Dr. Raifu Durodoye, Senior Research Associate at WestEd, discuss the REMIQS project, a multi-state, mixed-methods investigation designed to explore how we can best serve our most vulnerable learners. Their conversation focuses on expanding measures of school quality and reframing (remixing) accountability systems in ways that can support all learners.
Dr. Durodoye is an educational researcher and practitioner whose work primarily consists of experimental and quasi-experimental evaluations of education programs and interventions. Durodoye also provides technical assistance to school districts and state education agencies and conducts studies of state education finance systems. The thrust of his research and work with school districts and states has been to foster meaningful research-practice partnerships with the aim of improving outcomes for historically marginalized students and currently underserved communities.
To learn more about the REMIQS project, visit REMIQS.org.
You can find Dr. Durodoye on LinkedIn or send a message online at WestEd.org/personnel/raifu-durodoye-jr.
Additional Resources for this Episode
REMIQS Qualitative Filtering Technical Report
Four Recommendations for States to Optimize State Longitudinal Data Systems in the Era of COVID-19 (Blog)
Lighting Candles: Finding and Studying Schools That Are Achieving Equity (Blog)
Robust & Equitable Measures to Inspire Quality Schools (REMIQS): School Identification Phase (Infographic)
KnowledgeWorks + JFF (Infographic)

Sustaining Education Leaders of Color

“I hope that after engaging in this conversation, folks are thinking about the systemic work that needs to be done. It is not just left to the principal to figure out how she can decompress and do self-care. There are real systemic gaps and challenges that will continuously make her job unbearable. And so, what can we do to lighten that load to mitigate some of those barriers?” – Dr. Erin Browder
Research shows effective and supported education leaders, particularly principals, can have a significant impact on student achievement outcomes. Their impact is schoolwide. How can we best support them?
In this episode, host Danny Torres and Dr. Erin Browder, Senior Program Associate at WestEd, discuss the pressing and enduring needs of leaders of color and the work the education community must do to address the systemic inequities that threaten leaders’ health and well-being.
Their conversation touches upon the following topics:
The important difference between retaining and sustaining leaders of color
Common inequities leaders of color face every day
What is necessary to create equitable systems accountability and change
Why everyone benefits from addressing systemic inequities
The significance of culturally affirming environments
Dr. Browder provides technical assistance and project design for K–12 initiatives. Her work focuses on trauma-informed topics, school improvement, systems change, leadership development, social-emotional learning, and culturally responsive and equity-centered approaches to promote safe and supportive schools.
Dr. Browder also provides technical assistance for the national Center to Improve Social and Emotional Learning and School Safety, federally funded comprehensive centers (Region 2 and Region 15), and regional educational laboratories (REL West and REL-NEI).
WestEd works with schools, districts, and states to build capacity to develop and implement anti-racist, equity-focused policies and practices that lead to transformative, systemwide change. Learn more about our Systemic Equity Review work.
Transcript
Resources Mentioned in This Episode
Center for Black Educator Development
Leading Voices Episode 1: Adult Well-Being and Creating a Culture of Care
You can find Dr. Browder on Twitter at @erintheeducator or send a message online at Wested.org/personnel/erin-browder.

Amplifying Student Agency with Formative Assessment

“At the heart of formative assessment is a belief in the students and the communities that we partner with and their ability as a system to learn and grow. This idea that learning is for all of us is something that’s central to our belief system. That learning is something that we share as humanity — a desire to learn, a desire to grow, and a desire to learn from one another.”
In this episode, Nancy Gerzon, Franchesca Warren, and Cali Kaminsky, all experts with WestEd’s Formative Insights, discuss how schools and districts can amplify student agency and identity through formative assessment policies and practices.
Nancy Gerzon is Project Director for WestEd's Formative Insights team. She has been at the forefront of developing scalable approaches to teacher-led learning and formative assessment. Professional Learning Specialist Franchesca Warren leads work that builds teacher and student capacity for strategic impact and increased agency. Senior Program Associate Cali Kaminsky supports large-scale projects that grow teacher and leader agency through formative assessment.
With host Danny Torres, they explore:
What is formative assessment and how it relates to student agency
The research behind formative assessment policies and practices
How formative assessment looks in the classroom
The importance of diversity of thought in the learning process
Implementation barriers
The crucial role of education leaders
The importance of culturally responsive and sustainable education
Learn more about WestEd’s Formative Insights services.
Transcript
Resources
Formative Insights Website and Video Collection
Ambitious Teaching and Equitable Assessment: A Vision for Prioritizing Learning, Not TestingBy Lorrie A. Shepard (American Educator, Fall 2021)
Defining Formative Assessment (Brief)
The Power of Evidence Use in Formative Assessment (Brief)
Amplifying Student Agency Through Formative Assessment (Blog)
Formative Insights Named a Top Education Innovation in Formative Assessment (News)
Follow the Formative Insights Team on Twitter: @FormativInsight
 

Adult Well-Being and Creating a Culture of Care

In recent years, educators have faced unprecedented upheaval and stress. While ensuring student well-being, self-care often becomes less of a priority. However, self-care is critical for educators.
In this episode, Dr. Christina Pate, Deputy Director of the U.S. Department of Education’s Center to Improve Social and Emotional Learning and School Safety, and host Danny Torres share a rich discussion about the importance of educator self-care for improved well-being and better student outcomes. Sr. Pate is also Director of Safe and Supportive Learning Environments (SSLE) services at WestEd.
As a leading voice in the field, Dr. Pate works to foster adult well-being, promotes trauma-informed practice and resilience, and improves cross-sector collaboration in ways that help improve outcomes for individuals and systems.
“We don’t have to be in perfect condition to be helpful,” Dr. Pate says, “but we certainly can’t be in a debilitating condition or under so much stress that we can’t really show up for other people…. To be helpful to others, we have to be helping ourselves first.”
Dr. Pate describes her personal experience of burnout and offers a framework for addressing educator well-being. Find out why self-care doesn’t mean spa days, learn practical strategies to support well-being, and much more.
Learn more about WestEd's Safe and Supportive Learning Environments services.
Transcript
Resources Mentioned in This Episode
Self-Care Strategies for Educators During the Coronavirus Crisis: Supporting Personal Social and Emotional Well-Being (PDF)
Beyond SEL Audiocast
Leading Voices: Creating Safe and Supportive Learning Environments – Dr. Christina Pate in Conversation with State and District Leaders (Archived Webinar)