As we head into a new school year, schools and families across the country are grappling with significant challenges, from teacher shortages to enrollment fluctuations and the integration of new technologies. Today, we're focusing on these key issues by taking a close look at the largest school district in the nation: New York City.

In today’s episode, Jill and Ross are joined by Dan Weisberg, the First Deputy Chancellor for the NYC Department of Education. Dan plays a pivotal role in shaping the strategies under Chancellor David Banks' leadership, overseeing areas like postsecondary readiness, human resources, policy, and enrollment. With his extensive background in labor policy, talent management, and academic strategy, Dan brings a unique perspective to the pressing issues facing schools today. 

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Jill and Dr. Walsh discuss how schools are addressing student relationships with social media and technology and how parents can help students establish healthy relationships with the digital world and set healthy boundaries.

If you’d like to learn more about Dr. Walsh’s work, check out the resources below.

Dr. Jill Walsh’s Bio

Dr. Jill Walsh’s Research

Digital Aged

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In today’s episode, Jill and Ross are joined by two experts to explore this topic. Harry Feder is the Executive Director of Fair Test, a national organization that advocates for fair and equitable testing practices. Harry brings a wealth of experience in challenging the way tests are used and proposing alternatives. 

Dr. Martin West is a professor and academic dean at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a board member of the National Assessment Governing Board. Dr. West offers a unique perspective with his extensive research on education policy and his involvement in shaping how assessments are created and implemented. 

To learn more about Dr West’s research and Harry’s work with Fair Test, check out the resources below.

Harry Feder Bio

Dr. Martin West Bio

Fair Test

Research on MCAS in Massachusetts

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In today’s episode, Jill and Ross dive into the teaching shortage issue and how to keep teachers in the classroom with two experts: Dr. Tequilla Brownie and Dr. Carole Basile. Dr Tequilla Brownie is the CEO of TNTP, a national organization that works with schools and teachers across the country to advance high quality education for all students by ensuring an effective teacher in every classroom. Dr. Carole Basile is the Dean of the Arizona State Mary Lou Fulton Teachers’ College. Dr Basile is leading efforts at Arizona State focused on redesigning the education workforce and changing practices in teacher and leadership preparation. 

To learn more about Dr. Brownie’s work with TNTP and Dr. Basile’s work at ASU, check out the resources below.

Dr. Tequilla Brownie’s Bio

Dr. Carole Basile’s Bio

About ASU Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College

About TNTP

The Widget Effect: Our National Failure to Acknowledge and Act on Differences in Teacher Effectiveness

The Irreplaceables: Understanding The Real Retention Crisis in America’s Urban Schools

A Broken Pipeline: Teacher Preparation's Diversity Problem

One Million Teachers of Color (1MToC)

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In today’s episode of “Deep Dives,” Jill and Ross are joined by two experts to explore this topic: Maria Brisk and Angélica Infante-Green. Professor Maria Brisk is a renowned expert in bilingual education and language development. Professor Brisk’s research and work have been instrumental in understanding how bilingual students acquire language and how educators can best support a student’s learning journey. Angélica Infante-Green is the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education for the State of Rhode Island. Commissioner Infante-Green has spent her career supporting English Language Learners by implementing nationally recognized programs and initiatives to support bilingual learning in New York and Rhode Island. 

If you’d like to learn more about Professor Brisk and Commissioner Infante-Green’s work, check out the resources below:

Commissioner Infante-Green’s Bio

Professor Brisk’s Bio

Professor Brisk’s Research

Rhode Island Blueprint for Multilingual Learners’ Success

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In today’s special episode, Jill talks with Dr. Stuart Ablon, award-winning psychologist, Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School, and Founder and Director of Think:Kids at Massachusetts General Hospital. Jill talks to Dr. Ablon about his approach and how it can be used to have a productive conversation with your kids to talk about social media.

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In today's episode, Jill and Ross are joined by two leading experts to explore this topic: Valerie Williams and Bill Henderson. Valerie Williams serves as the Director of the Office of Special Education Programs at the U.S. Department of Education. With an extensive background in policy and advocacy for children with disabilities, Valerie brings a wealth of experience in supporting states and districts across the country to help students with disabilities. Bill Henderson is a former school leader in Boston who led one of the most successful inclusive schools in the country, the O'Hearn School. His work in inclusion is nationally recognized. Valerie and Bill join Jill and Ross to discuss the state of special education across the country and how schools can better support students of all abilities.

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Lauren Baker, Former First Lady of Massachusetts, is the Founder and CEO of the Wonderfund, a nonprofit that supports youth engaged with the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families. Shaheer Mustafa is the President and CEO of Hopewell, the Commonwealth’s largest nonprofit provider of comprehensive foster care and wraparound support. Lauren and Shaheer join us to discuss the challenges these students face and how schools and communities can best support their most vulnerable students.

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Today, in the second episode of “Deep Dives,” Jill and Ross dive into this topic with two leaders at the forefront of understanding and addressing it: Tim Daly and Alison Hramiec. Tim Daly is the CEO of EdNavigator, a national organization that empowers families to access high-quality education. Tim recently authored a brilliant three-part series on what’s behind the rise in absenteeism and how to address it. Alison Hramiec is the Head of School at the Boston Day and Evening Academy, which supports chronically absent students across Boston and helps them re-engage through competency-based learning, mentorship, and support. We discuss the driving forces behind rising absenteeism, the trends in Boston and around the country, and how school leaders and policymakers can help get kids back in school.

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Today, in the first episode of “Deep Dives,” Jill and Ross are joined by John Deasy, President of the Bezos Family Foundation and a former superintendent of several large school districts - including Los Angeles and Prince George’s County. John has spent four decades as an educator, school leader, superintendent, and education policy expert, and we talk with John about the current state of public education, the biggest issues facing school districts, and what it will take to reimagine the status quo and improve public schools nationwide.

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In the first two episodes of this series, we spoke with academics and education advocates to explore how incentives in education and government impact the lives of kids and the adults who serve them - from educators and health care providers, to social workers, to guidance counselors and coaches.

Today, in the final episode of this special series, Jill is joined by Valerie Jarrett, CEO of the Obama Foundation and former White House Senior Advisor to President Barack Obama, to talk about Valerie’s extraordinary career and how government leaders can use incentives to drive change.

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In this series, we explore how incentives in education and government impact the lives of kids and the adults who serve them - from educators and health care providers, to social workers, to guidance counselors and coaches. We speak with academics and industry leaders to understand how incentives work and the barriers they often pose to reform and innovation in these fields.

In the first episode, Jill was joined by Professor Uri Gneezy, Epstein/Atkinson Chair in Management Leadership at the UC San Diego Rady School of Management and author of “Mixed Signals: How Incentives Really Work.” Today, in the second episode of this special series, Jill is joined again by Michael Horn and Jeff Selingo, education advocates and hosts of the “Future U” podcast, to talk about how incentives are structured in education and how we can change those incentives to better prepare students for the workforce.

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Recently, Jill had the opportunity to speak with Boston Globe columnist Shirley Leung about Chelsea Eats on her new podcast, “Say More.” In this special episode of “Catalysts for Change,” we share their conversation about the Chelsea Eats initiative, covering everything from the project’s initial inspiration and conception, to the impact it had on the community, to the award-winning documentary the Shah Family Foundation produced about this work.

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Over the next few weeks, we’ll explore how incentives in education and government impact the lives of kids and the adults who serve them - from educators and health care providers, to social workers, to guidance counselors and coaches. We’ll be speaking with academics and industry leaders to understand how incentives work and the barriers they often pose to reform and innovation in these fields.

Today, in the first episode of this three-part special series, Jill is joined by Professor Uri Gneezy, Epstein/Atkinson Chair in Management Leadership at the UC San Diego Rady School of Management and author of “Mixed Signals: How Incentives Really Work,” to talk about what incentives are, how they work, and how to recognize and understand their impact on every aspect of our lives.

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In our last episode, we were joined by Boston Public Schools Superintendent Mary Skipper. Today, in the fifth and final episode of this series, Jill is joined by Richard Louv, bestselling author and speaker, to talk about the role of the great outdoors in healthy development and why spending more time outside is key to our physical and mental well-being.

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In our last episode, we spoke with clinical psychologist Dr. Jaqueline Nesi about parenting in the social media age. Today, in the fourth episode of this series, Jill is joined by Boston Public Schools Superintendent Mary Skipper, along with Chief of Student Support Jillian Kelton, to talk about how social media impacts kids in and out of school.

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In our last episode, we spoke with Dr. Jill Walsh, professor of sociology at Boston University, about how teens are navigating their physical and digital worlds. Today, in the third episode of this special series, Jill is joined by Dr. Jacqueline Nesi, clinical psychologist, Assistant Professor at Brown University, and founder of Tech Without Stress, to discuss her research on the effects of social media on teen behavior and to better understand how parents think about their children’s use of social media.

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In our first episode, we spoke with researcher Jonathan Haidt about how the advent of smartphones created a social media-dependent generation. Today, in the second episode of this series, Jill is joined by Dr. Jill Walsh, professor of Sociology at Boston University, whose research is focused on the digital space and its impact on adolescent development. Dr. Walsh is also the founder of Digital Aged, through which she works with parents and counselors to give them the tools to help young people navigate the online world.

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Over the next few weeks, we’re bringing together experts, advocates, along with political and school leaders to better understand the impact of social media on mental health, discuss how best to support young people in the social media age, and explore the role of regulations and restrictions in this special series of “Catalysts for Change" we're calling, "Can Teens Survive the Digital World?"

In this first episode, Jill is joined by Jonathan Haidt, professor at NYU’s Stern School of Business and one of the most acclaimed social psychologists in the U.S. Jonathan’s research on the impact of social media on teenagers is helping inform policymakers across the country, and he joins to discuss his findings.

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If you’d like to learn more about Dr. Hamilton’s work, check out the links below.

Dr. David Hamilton’s Website

Dr. David Hamilton’s Twitter

Dr. David Hamilton’s Books

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Over the past few weeks, we have spoken with researchers and change agents who are working to rethink our education system and provide better opportunities and outcomes for all students in a special series called, “Catalysts for Change: What Is World Class Education?”

In the previous two episodes, Jill was joined by Professor Tom Kane and Sal Khan. In this series finale, Jill is joined by prominent education advocates and hosts of the “Future U” podcast, Michael Horn and Jeff Selingo, to discuss the future of not only colleges and universities, but of the K-12 pipeline that delivers students to their doorstep.

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Over the next few weeks, we are talking with education advocates, researchers, and change agents working to rethink our education system and provide better opportunities and outcomes for all students in a special series called “Catalysts for Change: What Is World Class Education?”

In the first episode, Jill was joined by Harvard Graduate School of Education Professor Tom Kane to discuss pandemic learning loss and recovery. Today, in the second episode of this special series, Jill is joined by Sal Khan, founder of Khan Academy and one of the most well-known education innovators in the world, to talk about his groundbreaking work in providing a free, world-class education to anyone, anywhere.

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Over the next few weeks, we will be talking with education advocates, researchers, and change agents working to rethink our education system and provide better opportunities and outcomes for all students in a special series called “Catalysts for Change: What Is World Class Education?”

In this first episode, Jill is joined by Tom Kane, Walter H. Gale Professor of Education and Economics at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Tom was a guest on this podcast as the pandemic was just beginning and we’re excited to have him on again, this time to talk about his new research on student learning loss across the country.

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Over the past few weeks, we’ve spoken with food leaders of different types to understand America’s relationship with food and the resulting impact on all of us, and particularly our most vulnerable communities, in a special series called “Catalysts for Change: Ingredients for Success.”

In the previous two episodes, Jill was joined by U.S. Representative Jim McGovern and author Andy Fisher. In this series finale, Jill is joined by James Beard award-winning chefs Ken Oringer and Ming Tsai. We talk about their amazing journeys as chefs, the way that they give back to their communities, as well as the tricks of the trade and their favorite meals and recipes.

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Over the next few weeks, we’ll be speaking with food leaders of different types to understand America’s relationship with food and the resulting impact on all of us, and particularly our most vulnerable communities, in a special series called “Catalysts for Change: Ingredients for Success.”

In the last episode, Jill was joined by Representative Jim McGovern, who represents District 2 in Massachusetts and serves as Co-Chair of the House Hunger Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives. In this second episode, Jill is joined by Andy Fisher, an anti-hunger activist and author of “Big Hunger,” to talk about the food industry, the anti-hunger movement, and the history of food access in the United States.

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Over the next few weeks, we’ll be speaking with food leaders of different types to understand America’s relationship with food and the resulting impact on all of us, and particularly our most vulnerable communities, in a special series called “Catalysts for Change: Ingredients for Success.”

In this first episode, Jill is joined by Representative Jim McGovern, who represents District 2 in Massachusetts and serves as Co-Chair of the House Hunger Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives, to talk about the recent White House conference and the role of government in solving food access and health issues that have largely stayed the same or worsened since the first conference on food was held in 1969.

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To learn more about Noubar’s work and about Moderna, check out the resources below:

Noubar Afeyan’s Biography

Moderna Website

Noubar Afeyan’s Twitter

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This summer, we’re speaking with four local leaders in a special podcast series we’re calling, “Catalysts for Change: In and Around Boston.” These four leaders share a deep commitment to building a stronger, healthier, and more livable city, and we hope you gain as much from their perspectives and insights as we did.

In our fourth and final episode of this special series, Jill is joined by Dr. Robyn Riseberg, founder of Boston Community Pediatrics, which is piloting a new and innovative model for comprehensive medical care for our city’s most vulnerable children. Jill talks with Robyn about why she started this practice and what opportunities this model presents for the future of pediatric care in our state and our country.

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This summer, we’re speaking with four local leaders in a special podcast series we’re calling, “Catalysts for Change: In and Around Boston.” These four leaders share a deep commitment to building a stronger, healthier, and more livable city, and we hope you gain as much from their perspectives and insights as we did.

In our third episode, Jill is joined by Jascha Franklin-Hodge, Chief of Streets, Transportation, and Sanitation for the City of Boston, to talk about how the pandemic impacted transit in Boston, what the Wu administration is doing to improve our outdoor quality-of-life, and how he weighs the tradeoffs between buses, bikes, and cars when reimagining our transportation system.

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Over the next few weeks, we’re speaking with four local leaders in a special podcast series we’re calling, “Catalysts for Change: In and Around Boston.” These four leaders share a deep commitment to building a stronger, healthier, and more livable city, and we hope you gain as much from their perspectives and insights as we did.

In our second episode, Jill is joined by Robert Lewis, Jr., President & CEO of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston, to talk about how his leadership was shaped by his childhood in the Boston Public Schools, the important life lessons learned from team sports, and how the language we use shapes the expectations we set for the next generation.

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In the first episode of this limited series, Jill speaks with Justin Pasquariello, Executive Director of the East Boston Social Centers, about growing up in Boston, the critical ways in which his organization creates joy for East Boston families, and how his life experiences help inform a more comprehensive approach to social services.

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The City of Boston has a new mayor, and Mayor Wu and her appointed school committee have begun a search for a new Superintendent of Boston Public Schools. Boston has had 6 superintendents in 16 years - three of whom served Interim roles - and all who worked tirelessly on behalf of students, families and staff to improve aspects of BPS. 

What type of leader does BPS need now? What are the city’s priorities for our public school system? Who can be successful in the role? What can Bostonians do to make the next Superintendent’s term impactful and successful? 

In this special series of “Last Night at School Committee,” we bring together more than a dozen community leaders, as well as all 6 superintendents from the last 16 years, and ask them to weigh in on these questions.

This first episode features the voices of 14 Boston leaders – teachers, principals, education advocates, nonprofit leaders, union leaders, political leaders, former School Committee members, and others – offering their perspectives on the role of the superintendent, key priorities for Boston Public Schools, and how the community can come together to support our school district and its new leader. Below is a list of all participants in this episode:

• Will Austin, Founder and CEO, Boston Schools Fund
• Edith Bazile, BPS Parent and Grandparent, Former BPS Teacher, Special Education and Literacy Advocate
• Erik Berg, Vice President, Boston Teachers Union
• Ernani DeAraujo, Former Boston School Committee Member
• Fabienne Eliacin, BPS Parent and Former Member of the Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SpEdPAC)
• Dr. Caren Walker Gregory, Head of School, Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers
• Matt Holzer, Headmaster, Boston Green Academy
• Suzanne Lee, Former Principal of the Josiah Quincy Elementary School, Co-Chair of the English Language Learner (ELL) Task Force
• Cole Moran, Teacher, Charlestown High School
• James Morton, President and CEO, YMCA of Greater Boston
• Alexandra Oliver-Dávila, Former Chair of the Boston School Committee and Executive Director of Sociedad Latina
• Elizabeth Pauley, Associate Vice President, Education to Career and Health and Wellness, The Boston Foundation
• Tanisha Sullivan, President, NAACP Boston
• Dave Sweeney, Former Chief of Staff to Boston Mayor Marty Walsh

To learn more about the participants and see a video version of the episode highlighting each speaker, visit BostonSuperintendent.com. And be sure to subscribe to the Last Night at School Committee podcast for the rest of the episodes in this series.

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We’re diving into these questions with a special four-part series called “Catalysts for Change: How Are You Feeling?” In our last episode, Jill spoke with Kat Boit, student leader at Harvard University and co-president of Active Minds, a nationwide organization aiming to change the conversation about mental health and provide support and awareness for college students across the country. In the last episode of this series, Jill talks with Roz Picard, Director of the Affective Computing Research Group at the MIT Media Lab and founding faculty chair of MIT's Mind+Hand+Heart Initiative, to discuss how artificial intelligence and other technologies can be used as a scalable way to detect and treat mental health.

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We’re diving into these questions with a special four-part series called “Catalysts for Change: How Are You Feeling?” In our last episode, Jill spoke with John Crocker, founder and director of the Massachusetts Mental Health Consortium, and Director of School Mental Health & Behavioral Services for Methuen Public Schools. In this episode, Jill speaks with Kat Boit, student leader at Harvard University and co-president of Active Minds, a nationwide organization aiming to change the conversation about mental health and provide support and awareness for college students across the country.

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Over the next few weeks, we’ll be diving into these questions with a special four-part series called “Catalysts for Change: How Are You Feeling?” In our first episode, Jill spoke with Dr. Maurizio Fava, Chief of the Department of Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital. In this episode, Jill speaks with John Crocker, founder and director of the Massachusetts Mental Health Consortium, and Director of School Mental Health & Behavioral Services for Methuen Public Schools, about the ways in which young people are experiencing and coping with mental health right now, and the role of schools in prevention and treatment.

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Over the next few weeks, we’ll be diving into these questions with a special four-part series called, “Catalysts for Change: How Are You Feeling?” In our first episode, Jill speaks with Dr. Maurizio Fava, Chief of the Department of Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital, about the science of mental health and the ways in which our experiences over the past two years have created a “pandemic within a pandemic.”

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Over the past few weeks, we’ve done a deep-dive into these questions with a special three-part series called “Catalysts for Change: The Changing Workforce.” In the third and final episode of this special series, Jill speaks with Corey Thomas, Chairman and CEO of the Boston-based cybersecurity company Rapid7, who discusses how business leaders are adapting to the new normal and what the future of work will bring.

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Over the next few weeks, we’re diving into these questions with a special three-part series called “Catalysts for Change: The Changing Workforce.” In our second episode, Jill speaks with Dan Schneider, Professor of Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School and Co-Director of the SHIFT project, which has the largest source of data on service sector workers in the United States. Having collected and studied data on workforce trends since long before the pandemic began, we talk with Dan about how the pandemic – and the government aid that came with it – altered ideas about work, and where we go from here.

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Over the next few weeks, we’re diving into these questions with a special three-part series called “Catalysts for Change: The Changing Workforce.” In our first episode, Jill speaks with U.S. Secretary of Labor – and former Boston Mayor – Marty Walsh about how the makeup of the American workforce has changed, what the government is doing to help businesses and employees adapt, and how these changes impact daily life in our hometown of Boston.

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Prior to working at POLITICO, Lisa covered politics, state government and the 2020 presidential election for the Boston Herald. She is also an alum of The Eagle-Tribune, The Patriot Ledger and Wicked Local, and has won several regional awards for her work. Lisa graduated from Boston University with degrees in journalism and psychology.

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A native of Taunton, Massachusetts, David spent his entire career in public service, getting his start as the Bristol County Register of Deeds and then Deputy Chief of Staff for Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick. In 2009, David joined the Obama Administration as a Deputy Assistant to the President, working alongside senior advisors David Axelrod and David Plouffe. He then served as Director of Opinion Research for President Obama’s re-election campaign, and later, David became Assistant to the President and Director of the Office of Political Strategy and Outreach. After leaving the White House, David was named CEO of the newly-created Obama Foundation, which is based on the South Side of Chicago.

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Arne served as President Obama’s first U.S. Secretary of Education from 2009 to 2016, where his initiatives included increases in Pell Grants and reform efforts such as Race to the Top. Before joining the Obama administration, Arne was the CEO of Chicago Public Schools for seven years, where he earned praise for reforming the education system and overseeing the opening of more than 100 schools. He joined Chicago Public Schools after helping to found and run the I Have a Dream Foundation, which, among many things, helped fund education for vulnerable students who had no easy path to paying for college. Currently, Arne is Managing Partner of Chicago CRED (Create Real Economic Destiny), which he co-founded with Laurene Powell Jobs, and which works to radically reduce gun violence and bring hope to Chicago’s vulnerable youth. Arne is a lifelong Chicagoan and a former professional basketball player, having played in college at Harvard University and in the Australian professional league.

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Making Caring Common is ​​a national effort to make moral and social development priorities in child-raising and to provide strategies to schools and parents for promoting caring, a commitment to justice and other key moral, emotional and social capacities. As part of the Making Caring Common project, Rick leads Turning the Tide, a national effort to reform college admissions that has engaged almost 200 college admissions offices in promoting ethical engagement, reducing damaging achievement pressure in high school and increasing equity and access for economically disadvantaged students. Rick is a founder of several interventions for children, including ReadBoston and WriteBoston, citywide literacy initiatives led by Mayor Menino. He has written for numerous publications, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Huffington Post, CNN, The New Republic, NPR, and Psychology Today. He is the author of two books including The Parents We Mean to Be: How Well-Intentioned Adults Undermine Children's Moral and Emotional Development.

We talk to Rick about perceptions of caring, achievement, and happiness for children and adults, the need for emphasizing care in our lives, and much more about his work with Making Caring Common. If you would like to learn more about Rick’s work and about the Making Caring Common Project, check out the links below.

Rick Weissbourd Biography

The Making Caring Common Project Website

Making Caring Common on Twitter

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Local Lunchbox was created in June 2020 in Chelsea, Massachusetts to help address the overwhelming food insecurity facing this community during the height of the pandemic. Since then, in partnership with Stock Pot Malden and the YMCA, Local Lunchbox has expanded to more than half a dozen communities across Massachusetts and created more than 50 food service jobs, many of which have gone to people who had been collecting meals for their families through the program. As the program grew from hundreds to thousands of meals per week, an offshoot called “Retail Lunchbox” was created, in which the free meals are served directly out of popular local restaurants. As of August 2021, Local Lunchbox has served over two million meals to children and teenagers across Massachusetts.

We talk to Francis and Lorena about their backgrounds, the origins and growth of Local Lunchbox, and the potential for this model to be replicated and scaled around the country. If you would like to learn more about Local Lunchbox, check out the resources below:

• Local Lunchbox Website
• Local Lunchbox in the News
• Learn More About Stock Pot Malden 

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Born and raised in Los Angeles, Aaron’s work with Panorama was born out of his experiences as a student advocate while attending public schools in Southern California. His advocacy work helped to push legislation in California that uplifted student voices, and during his junior year at Yale University, he created Panorama. Since its founding in 2012, Aaron has worked with school districts across the country, including Boston Public Schools, San Bernardino Unified School District, and many more, providing college- and career-readiness tools, school climate surveys, and social-emotional learning assessments. With more than 13 million students across the country, Aaron has expanded Panorama to serve school districts across all 50 states.

We talk with Aaron about his experiences as a student organizer and what led him to finding Panorama, the role Panorama plays in supporting school districts and students across the country, how Panorama is effectively used in supporting student outcomes, its role in understanding student data, and more. If you would like to learn more about Aaron Feuer and Panorama, please check out the links below:

• Aaron Feuer Twitter
• Connect with Aaron Feuer
• Panorama Education Website
• Panorama Education and Boston Public Schools
• Panorama Education Success Stories

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John Barros joined Mayor Walsh’s administration in 2014 to establish the new Economic Development cabinet and lead the department for seven years. Before working for the Walsh administration, he served as Executive Director of the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative and also served on the Boston School Committee. A lifelong resident of Roxbury and Dorchester, he attended Dartmouth College and Tufts University. He currently resides in Dorchester with his wife and four children.

We talk with John Barros about his background growing up in Boston, his time leading the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative and serving on the Boston School Committee, the initiatives he led as Chief of Economic Development, and how he will draw from his experience to help Boston thrive as we recover from the pandemic. If you would like to learn more about John Barros’s campaign, please check out the resources below.

Resources:

• John Barros’s Campaign Website
• Meet John Barros 
• John Barros’s Twitter
• John Barros’s Campaign Stances
• Ways to Engage with John Barros’s Campaign

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Raised in Boston after his family immigrated from Puerto Rico, Rep. Santiago went on to volunteer for the Peace Corps, serve as a Fullbright Scholar in Paris, and attend Yale Medical School. Following medical school, Rep. Santiago returned to Boston to work at Boston Medical Center, where he is an attending physician in the Emergency Department. In 2018, he ran against a 35-year incumbent for the 9th Suffolk District and was sworn in as state representative in 2019. In addition to his work as a state representative and physician, Rep. Santiago is also a captain in the U.S. Army Reserve and has been deployed overseas. He lives in the South End with his wife.

We talk with Rep. Santiago about his experience as an immigrant growing up in Boston, how his medical background impacts his work as a public servant, his vision for improving Boston’s neighborhoods, and more. If you would like to learn more about Jon Santiago’s campaign, please check out the resources below.

Resources:

• Jon Santiago’s Campaign Website
• Meet Jon Santiago 
• Jon Santiago’s Twitter
• Jon Santiago’s Campaign Stances
• Ways to Engage with Jon Santiago’s Campaign

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Raised in Roxbury and the South End, Councilor Campbell graduated from Boston Public Schools and Boston Latin School, going on to attend Princeton University and UCLA Law School. Following law school, Councilor Campbell worked as a lawyer, serving as deputy legal counsel for Governor Deval Patrick as well as spending time in the private sector. In 2015, she successfully ran against a 32-year incumbent to represent District 4 on the City Council, and in 2018, she became the first Black woman to serve as the City Council President. She and her family live in Mattapan.

We talk with Councilor Campbell about her journey, her experiences growing up in Boston, her work as a city councilor, her vision for an equitable Boston, and more. If you would like to learn more about Andrea Campbell’s campaign, please check out the resources below.

Resources:

• Andrea Campbell’s Campaign Website
• Meet Andrea Campbell
• Andrea Campbell’s Twitter
• Andrea Campbell’s Campaign Stances
• Ways to Engage with Andrea Campbell’s Campaign

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2021 is an important year for Bostonians -- we will recover from Covid-19, and we will elect a new mayor. This is a historic election. For the first time in history, Boston will have a mayor who is a person of color. With six candidates and an open seat following Mayor Walsh’s departure to Washington D.C., there’s a lot to cover, and we’ll be diving in over the next six weeks with each of the candidates about everything from education, to economic development, to racial justice, to their favorite coffee shops and restaurants in Boston, and more.

In the second episode of our special series, ‘Catalysts for Change: The Race for Boston’, Jill talks with City Councilor Annissa Essaibi George, a lifelong resident of Dorchester and former Boston Public Schools teacher.

Born and raised in Dorchester as the daughter of immigrants, Councilor Essaibi George graduated from Boston Public Schools and the O'Bryant School of Math and Science. After teaching for 13 years at East Boston High School, she successfully ran for an at-large seat on the Boston City Council. Councilor Essaibi George has served on the City Council since 2015 and currently serves as Chair of the Committee on Education and of the Committee on Homelessness, Mental Health, and Recovery. She currently lives in Dorchester with her husband and 4 children.

We talk with Councilor Essaibi George about her background growing up in Boston, her career as an educator and small business owner, her vision and plans for leading Boston out of the pandemic, and more. If you would like to learn more about Councilor Essaibi George’s campaign, please check out the links below.

Resources:

• Annissa Essaibi George Campaign Website
• Annissa Essaibi George’s Twitter
• Meet Annissa Essaibi George
• Annissa Essaibi George’s Campaign Stances
• Ways to Engage with Annissa Essaibi George’s Campaign

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2021 is an important year for Bostonians -- we will recover from Covid-19, and we will elect a new mayor. This is a historic election. For the first time in history, Boston will have a mayor who is a person of color. With six candidates and an open seat following Mayor Walsh’s departure to Washington D.C., there’s a lot to cover, and we’ll be diving in over the next six weeks with each of the candidates about everything from education, to economic development, to racial justice, to their favorite coffee shops and restaurants in Boston, and more.

In this first episode, we are joined by Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu, who has served as an at-large member of the council since being elected in 2013. Michelle Wu previously worked at City Hall for Mayor Tom Menino and his chief of staff, Mitch Weiss, and on Senator Elizabeth Warren’s 2012 senate campaign. She graduated from Harvard Law School and currently lives in Roslindale with her husband and two kids.

We talk with Councilor Wu about her background and journey to Boston, her work as a Boston City Councilor, her plans for Boston schools, her vision on environmental justice, the tea shop she used to run, and more. If you would like to learn more about Michelle Wu’s campaign, please check out the resources below. 

Resources:

• Michelle Wu for Mayor Campaign Website
• Meet Michelle Wu
• Michelle Wu’s Twitter
• Michelle Wu’s Campaign Stances
• Ways to Engage with Michelle Wu’s Campaign

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A lifelong resident of Boston and Cambridge, DA Rollins previously served on the Judicial Nominating Commission and as general counsel for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority, nominated by former Governor Deval Patrick. Since taking office as District Attorney in 2019, DA Rollins has implemented policies aimed at reducing the prosecution of misdemeanors that are tied to mental health issues, substance use disorders, food and housing insecurities, and immigration status. She created the Discharge Integrity Team to help investigate officer-involved shootings and allegations of excessive force, as well as the Integrity Review Bureau (IRB) that looks not only at post-conviction claims of innocence, but also reviews unconstitutional, unethical, and unjust convictions, as well as sentencing disparities.

We talk with DA Rollins about her background growing up in Boston and what inspired her to go into law, her innovative use of data and analytics to bring transparency and accountability to the District Attorney’s Office, and the ways in which she uses her office to drive policies aimed at creating a more just and equitable legal system.

If you would like to read more about Rachael Rollins and her work as Suffolk County District Attorney, please check out the links below.

Meet District Attorney Rachael Rollins

Rachael Rollins Biography

Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office Website

Rachael Rollins’s Twitter

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Throughout his career, Dr. Pelton has worked to address social justice issues. A common theme in his lectures, speeches and writing has been to ask us “to share our talents and resources with those who have not had the good fortune to participate in the bounty of life.” Pelton grew up in Wichita, Kansas, where he graduated from Wichita State University. He left Kansas to earn a Ph.D. in 19th century English and American Literature and Languages at Harvard University. After teaching at Harvard, he served as Dean of the College at Colgate University and Dartmouth College and then served for 13 years as the president of Willamette University in Salem, Oregon. He has spent the past 10 years at Emerson College, where his leadership has been called “transformational”. In addition to his work at Emerson, Lee is involved with a number of non-profit organizations and supports their work with his informed take on racial equity.

We talk to Lee about his journey leading him to Emerson College, his vision and aspirations for his role with The Boston Foundation, the current state of Boston and the important issues facing its residents. 

If you would like to read more about Dr. Pelton’s work, check out the resources below.

• Lee Pelton Biography
• Lee Pelton and The Boston Foundation
• Lee Pelton’s Letter to Students in June 2020 on Racial Injustice
• Lee Pelton’s Twitter
• The Boston Foundation’s Website

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Maura Healey began serving as Massachusetts Attorney General in January 2015 and is leading the people’s law firm as the people’s lawyer, continuing a career spent fighting for justice and equal rights. Her historic victory in her first-ever run for office was driven by a strong grassroots campaign where she bested well-financed, establishment candidates in both the Democratic primary and the general election in November 2014. While being sworn in, AG Healey vowed to lead an office guided by her core values and driven by the issues that matter to the people of the Commonwealth – from health care and energy costs to protecting consumers, ensuring equality for all and keeping our communities safer. During the pandemic, the Attorney General has been helping to fight inequities across a spectrum of issues.

We talk to Attorney General Healey about her journey to becoming the Attorney General of Massachusetts, the impact of COVID-19 on her office’s work, and current issues that she is addressing in Massachusetts. To learn more about the Attorney General’s office and Attorney General Healey’s work, please check out the links below.

• Office of Attorney General Healey Website
• Follow AG Healey on Twitter
• AG Healey on Student Loan Forgiveness
• Maura Healey’s Website

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Maria has spent her career working with and supporting teachers across Massachusetts as a teacher in Boston Public Schools and, most recently, as an independent consultant. In 2016, Maria founded The Teacher Collaborative, which connects teachers across schools and districts, supports them to develop solutions to common challenges, and empowers them to share their ideas to make schools better places for students to learn. Maria and her team at The Teacher Collaborative work with teachers across the state to empower their voices, accelerate improvements in schools and districts in Massachusetts, and more, through teacher-directed programming.

As teachers have had to adapt to the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, we talk to Maria about how teachers are supporting their students, how they’ve adapted to address challenges in their classrooms, and the current state and future of education. If you would like to learn more about Maria and The Teacher Collaborative and how to support them, check out the resources below.

• Here is a link to The Teacher Collaborative website
• Twitter: @TheTeacherCoLab / @MariaFenwick
• Instagram: @TheTeacherCoLab
• Facebook: @TheTeacherCollaborative 
• LinkedIn: @TeacherCollaborative

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Superintendent Galdston began her work as Superintendent in 2017. She began her professional career as a Spanish and history teacher in San Jose, California, New York City, and in Billerica, Massachusetts.  In Billerica, she went on to serve as a curriculum coordinator, high school assistant principal, and eventually assistant superintendent.   Since beginning her tenure in the Watertown Public Schools, Dr. Galdston leads the district in the attainment of its strategic objectives, focused on equity, excellence, community, and Building for the Future.   

We talk to Superintendent Galdston about the efforts made to reopen schools in Watertown, how surveillance testing works in schools, and more. During the COVID-19 pandemic, her efforts have focused on a safe return to in-person learning, employing a variety of mitigation strategies for her students and staff, which includes the surveillance testing program to allow for safe in-person learning.

Schools across the state have begun to implement surveillance testing in their schools to safely re-open for students and staff. If you would like to learn more about this and efforts in Watertown Public Schools, check out the resources below.

Here is the link to understanding COVID-19 pooled testing in Massachusetts schools

Here is a link looking at the surveillance testing program in Watertown Public Schools

Pooled Testing Program Information from Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

Superintendent Deanne Galdston’s Biography 

Deanne Galdston’s Twitter

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Having been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, and other publications, Natalie focuses her work on education and inequities in the American education system. Recently, Natalie has written about the use of admissions tests for selective high schools, education and public policy, and more. In 2019, Natalie authored The Knowledge Gap, centered around the problem of the achievement gap and her idea of how we should be teaching all children not through the emphasis of reading comprehension “skills” but rather through the presentation of knowledge. Through The Knowledge Gap, Natalie presents the stories of educators, students, and parents to highlight current practices in education and how it can be changed so that all students receive a meaningful, rigorous education.

We talk to Natalie about what is being taught in school and what should be taught in school, addressing opportunity and achievement gaps, and more, in understanding how to transform our education system. If you’d like to read more of Natalie’s work, check out the links below. 

Resources: 

• Natalie Wexler’s website
• The Knowledge Gap
• Here is a recent article about admissions testing for selective schools
• Here is an interview of Natalie Wexler on Morning Joe discussing The Knowledge Gap

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A lifelong resident of Stockton, Tubbs grew up poor and was raised in a single parent household, before going on to graduate from Stockton Public Schools and, then, Stanford University. At Stanford, Tubbs majored in comparative studies in race and ethnicity, and spent time as an intern in the Obama White House. After graduating from Stanford, Tubbs successfully ran for a spot on Stockton’s city council in 2012 as the youngest person ever elected to the position. Three years later, Tubbs was elected Mayor of Stockton.

As Mayor, Tubbs started and implemented the Stockton Economic Empowerment Demonstration, a Guaranteed Income program that gives 125 residents of Stockton $500 a month. Out of this work, he founded Mayors for a Guaranteed Income, organizing Mayors around pilots and advocacy of guaranteed income for the underserved. Stockton’s guaranteed income program has become a national example, with many other cities and programs following Stockton’s lead, including the Shah Family Foundation’s work in Chelsea, MA. 

A key advocate of guaranteed income strategies, we talk to Mayor Tubbs about Stockton’s guaranteed income program, how it became a reality, its impact and importance over time, and more about Mayor Tubbs’ work in Stockton. 

If you would like to read more about Mayor Tubbs, as well as the Stockton Economic Empowerment Demonstration, check out the links below.

• Here is Mayor Michael Tubbs’ biography 
• Here is the Stockton Economic Empowerment Demonstration website
• Here is a link to a recent Boston Globe article about a new guaranteed income project in Chelsea MA
• Here is a link to Michael Tubbs’ Twitter
• Here is an article about Mayors for a Guaranteed Income and the COVID-19 Pandemic

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Over the past 10 years, Steve has helped grow the MassINC Polling Group into a respected poll provider across the country. He has worked with WBUR in providing election polling in an 8-year partnership, which has been widely considered the state’s poll of record. His analysis has been featured on CNN, WBUR, NHPR, and other national and regional news outlets. Before founding and working for MPG, he conducted survey research for the U.S. Department of State, the Obama 2008 presidential campaign, and other private corporations. 

We talk to Steve about a recent poll he conducted in November regarding the start of the 2020-21 school year. Sampling families across Massachusetts, the poll reveals important insights into how different types of learning are impacting students and trends that indicate underlying issues and inequities.

To read MPG’s poll, you can find it here. Check out some of the other important resources below.

Resources:

• Here is the Boston Globe article that discusses MPG’s poll
• Here is more information about the MassINC Polling Group
• Here is a link to Steve Koczela’s Biography
• Here are the most recent polls MPG has published

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Todd’s work regarding individual potential, and ultimate success, involves his research on the myth of being average, and his focus on empowering individuals. At Populace, Todd and his team use this notion and focus to reimagine education, work, and society.  His work shows us that we are all much closer than we think we are in terms of what we want out of life and for our country. 

Before co-founding Populace, Todd founded and led the Laboratory for the Science of Individuality, which focused on developing new insights to addressing long standing issues in society. 

We talk to Todd about his own personal journey, the importance of understanding our individual strengths, and shifting away from the notion of average and norms, as well as his work at Populace. 

If you would like to learn more about Todd’s work, you can find more information here. You can also read about these ideas in Todd’s best-selling book, Dark Horse.

Resources:

Todd Rose’s Biography

Todd Rose’s TEDx Talk About “The Myth of Being Average”

Todd Rose on “Good Morning America”

Todd Rose’s Book “Dark Horse”

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The 13th president and CEO of the YMCA, James previously served at YMCAs in Springfield and Hartford, CT. As the president of the YMCA of Greater Hartford, Morton oversaw substantial growth in innovative programming and membership experience, while also leading a $15 million capital campaign. James is currently a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association, serves on the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, and serves on the City of Boston’s My Brother’s Keeper Advisory Board.

We talk to James’ about his personal background and how it has influenced his work and journey, his work with the YMCA and working with Boston residents, the importance of the work of the YMCA during the COVID-19 pandemic, and more. While the pandemic forced many organizations to close, the YMCA of Greater Boston has worked to support their families during these challenging times. 

If you would like to learn more about James’ work with the YMCA of Greater Boston, please see below. If you would like to support the important efforts made by the YMCA, you can find more information below.

Resources:

YMCA of Greater Boston Website

Support the YMCA of Greater Boston

James Morton Biography

The Way to a Better Us: A Collection of Reflections from James Morton to the Community

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While running for president of the United States, Andrew ran with a major focus on implementing a universal basic income for all Americans and building a human centered economy. Although his bid for presidency was unsuccessful, Andrew is seen as a key figure in American politics and has been supporting multiple Democratic candidates this election cycle. Before running for president, Andrew founded and led Venture for America, as well as working for a number of start-ups and as a corporate lawyer. In 2011, he was named by the Obama administration as a “Champion of Change” and later a Presidential Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship.

We talk to Andrew about the 2020 Presidential Election, the important senate run-off elections in Georgia, the importance of universal basic income and what that looks like moving forward, and more. If you would like to read more about our work in Chelsea and about Andrew’s work, please visit the links below.

Here is a link to Move Humanity Forward, a non-profit started by Andrew Yang

Here is a link to a recent Boston Globe article about a new guaranteed income project in Chelsea MA

Background on concepts of a universal basic income (UBI) 

Yang Speaks – A new podcast from Andrew Yang

Andrew Yang’s Twitter

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Chris’s work with the Economic Security Project focuses on supporting policies and initiatives for guaranteed income, which provides individuals with a set amount of money. As co-founder of the Economic Security Project, he has led work to rewrite federal and state tax codes to create a monthly tax credit for Americans most in need, a policy which would create a guaranteed income for working people in the United States, among other initiatives. In addition to his work at the Economic Security Project, Chris also works with the Roosevelt Institute, a progressive think tank working to reimagine the rules of the economy. Before becoming involved in work with guaranteed income, Chris co-founded Facebook and also worked for Barack Obama’s presidential campaign in 2008.

Initiatives in guaranteed income have been seen across the country, with many advocates calling for nation-wide programs, especially with the rise of unemployment rates and wealth gaps during the COVID-19 crisis. We talk to Chris about the basics of guaranteed income, its effects, his work with the Economic Security Project, and more about current policies and pilots.

The Foundation excited to be piloting a guaranteed income program in Chelsea MA. If you’d like to learn more about this initiative as well as more info about guaranteed income and Chris’s work, check out the resources listed below.

Here is a link to a recent Boston Globe article about a new guaranteed income project in Chelsea MA

Here is a link to donate to the United Way of Massachusetts Bay, which will help support this guaranteed income project in Chelsea

A recent New York Times op-ed by Chris Hughes about the need of a guaranteed income

Background on concepts of a universal basic income (UBI) 

Economic Security Project Website

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A leader in celiac disease research, Dr. Fasano also directs the Center for Celiac Research, focusing on the treatment of patients with gluten-related disorders, including celiac disease and gluten sensitivity. Dr. Fasano also directs the Mucosal Immunology and Biology Research Center at Mass. General and is associate chief for Basic, Clinical and Translational Research. World renowned for his research and work, Dr. Fasano has been featured in hundreds of interviews from outlets such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and more.

Released in August, Dr. Fasano and a team of researchers provided insight into how children are impacted by COVID-19, timely with the discussion of the reopening of schools. The research found that children were found to have a higher viral load of the virus in their airways compared to hospitalized adults, and that they are more contagious than originally thought. 

As schools start to reopen for this school year, Dr. Fasano’s research reminds us about the importance of safely reopening and implementing important protocols to keep children, families, teachers, and communities safe. If you’d like to read more of Dr. Fasasno’s research on COVID-19, please click here. 

Resources:

• Here is the full report on Pediatric COVID-19 Response 
• Here is some more information on Dr. Fasano
• CDC guidelines on protecting yourself and others from COVID-19 

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As a former teacher, district administrator, and social entrepreneur, Sarah brings innovative thinking of urban public school districts. Before working with Digital Ready, she worked at IDEO to launch an initiative to help public school districts build cultures of creativity and innovation, where teachers and students are empowered to create change. Sarah previously launched Parachute Teachers out of The Harvard Innovation Lab, a start-up that brings community members and industry experts into classrooms as part-time facilitators to generate high quality, real-world learning. 

Digital Ready aims at preparing the next generation of innovators for Boston — students will become artificial organ designers, massive 3D printed building designers, biomimicry engineers, and more. This year marked the launch of Year 13, a post-secondary year for students in Boston to gain real world experience and provide access in a growing field. In partnership with the Wentworth Institute of Technology and multiple organizations and companies, Year 13 participants leave the program with 18 college credits, a headstart on a Bachelor of Science degree, and access to high paying jobs in Boston’s innovative economy.  

If you’d like to read more about Sarah’s work at Digital Ready, please visit the links below:

Digital Ready and Year 13 Links:

• Digital Ready website

• Digital Ready Values

• Here is an article from The Boston Globe discussing Year 13 

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Moving to Boston from the Domincan Republic at five years old, Mariel spent the beginning of her educational journey in Boston Public Schools before moving to a suburban private high school with the support of her teachers and the Steppingstone Foundation. Witnessing the education inequities her fellow students of color and siblings faced as well as being a person of color in a predominantly white private high school, Mariel strives to advocate and support those students today in her work with EdTrust and MEEP while addressing and tackling systemic racism in order to create a more equitable future for all students.

If you’d like to read more about Mariel’s work, please check out the links below. 

Massachusetts Education Equity Partnership:

• Here is the MEEP op-ed that was published in the Boston Globe this morning titled “State must fulfill its promise to underserved students”.
• Here is MEEP’s “founding” document of sorts: “#1 for Some: Opportunity & Achievement in Massachusetts”.
• Link to MEEP’s website (more advocacy resources can be found there)

Education Trust Links:

• Here is a link to EdTrust’s website

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Our conversation with Sarah covers her teacher advocacy work, racial inequities, and police in schools. 

E4E is a teacher-led organization that ensures teachers have a leading voice around issues that are important to them. With 80% of its cohort being union members, Sarah works to build teachers as leaders to drive change. 

Sarah strives to ensure that police officers are not functioning as disciplinarians or first responders to student distress. Research suggests that having police in schools actually makes students feel less safe

Sarah also discusses her co-founded March Like a Mother for Black Lives movement, which was established after the murder of George Floyd. This rally and protest allow mothers from all walks of life to engage in a meaningful conversation with a community committed to racial justice.  

Transforming systemic educational inequities is challenging. We are grateful for innovators like Sarah, who continue to work to provide better and more equitable outcomes for teachers and students. Connect with Sarah and with her work at the links below. 

Educators for Excellence links: 

• Link to E4E Boston's website
• Read more on our campaign to invest in kids not cops
• Hear directly from educators on how remote learning is going here.

March like a Mother links: 

• Link to website: 
• Link to webinar with Ayanna Pressley on Childcare Reform 

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Our conversation with Jessica covers the Boston Teachers Union, Boston Public Schools, Covid-19, and back to school plans.

Jill and Jessica discuss the Boston Public Schools hybrid Reopening Plan and The Boston Teachers Union Reopening Plan.

One of the BTU’s biggest concerns is reaching the highest need students. Jessica points out in this conversation that one of the most significant learnings from spring was how difficult it was to engage students to get online at all.Teachers don’t feel comfortable going back into buildings that aren’t equipped with basic needs to ensure health and safety. Jessica’s perspective on reopening schools rests on these guiding principles: having the funding to do this right, putting safety first, and focusing on social, racial, and economic justice. 

Boston Public Schools’ 2020-21 school year will start in a few weeks, and families are still waiting for a finalized reopening plan.

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In our second podcast with Todd, we dive deeper into absenteeism through a pre-COVID lense, and also hear about two other initiatives on which Todd is currently focused: contact tracing, and social connectedness for students and families. 

Before COVID-19, absenteeism was a major concern. We know that the more school days that students miss lead to lower graduation rates, standardized test scores and grades, less connectedness with peers, and later in life, lower earnings. The impact of COVID-19 has made it difficult to understand what to measure and optimize. Todd believes that as school restarts in the fall, it will be crucial to assess and develop plans for where students currently are academically. He also believes that inequities that existed before COVID-19 will likely be exacerbated. 

Todd discusses his concerns about the disparity between students who have the family, school and peer support to continue to show up for school versus the kids who don’t. His research shows how physically being in school has a significant impact on student outcomes. 

He also shares his perspective on how schools can be great resources for contact tracing and how his company, EveryDay Labs, has been working on interventions to help students build relationships to support student and family connectedness. Todd continues to work to provide better and more equitable outcomes for students across the country. Learn more about Todd Rogers and his work and the New York Times article about chronic absenteeism referenced in the episode.

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Our conversation with professor Kane unpacks the current impact of COVID on our kids in schools, transforming education through innovation, and the racial achievement gap. 

Through an analysis of an urban medium-sized school district, professor Kane found that about 28% of students had not logged in for school over a month and a half. He talks to us about a possible virtual tutoring solution that has shown promise even before COVID.  

The Student Opportunity Act added $1.5B of funding to public school education in Massachusetts. $10M of that funding was committed to the 21st Century Education Trust Fund. Professor Kane shares the importance of this fund as it provides opportunities to innovate, including testing and piloting in education as we do in healthcare.   

Massachusetts’ National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) scores haven’t improved since 2007. Further, the racial achievement gap hasn’t changed since 1996. Professor Kane discusses the immediate need to shift from having discussions to intentionally closing the gap. He believes allocating funds to innovative methods and testing those methods could make all the difference.  

Professor Kane’s work and his perspective encourage us to think about how evidence-based processes can improve innovation and racial inequities for kids in schools. Learn more about his work, and as referenced in the episode, the Coleman Report. This report is widely considered the most important education study of the 20th century.

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Our conversation with professor Rogers explores the ins and outs of behavioral science, cost-effective strategies to reduce absenteeism in schools, and the power of persuasion in voting. Behavioral science explains the drivers of behavior, and professor Rogers’ work analyzes how we use what we learn from those drivers to help people follow through on their virtuous intentions. 

As referenced in professor Rogers’ Reducing Student Absences at Scale by Targeting Parents’ Misbeliefs paper, 10% of U.S. public school students are chronically absent each year. In a large-scale randomized experiment to reduce absenteeism, professor Rogers tested repeated rounds of mail-based messaging targeting parents of at-risk students. This experiment reduced total absences by 6% and chronically absent students by 10%. Professor Rogers’ Harvard EdCast: Reducing Absences, Capturing Days, highlights that motivating and empowering parents with useful information plays a significant role in student success. 

Professor Rogers is a leader in improving democracy. His work focuses on translating insights into voter mobilization. A Pew Research Center analysis showed that millennials continue to have the lowest voter turnout of any age group, where approximately 46% voted in the last presidential election. Through research, he’s discovered that peer pressure can be a motivational tool and yield a better voter turnout. 

Professor Rogers reminds us all that being silent is complicit, and creating plans to shift from intention to action is so important. We appreciate his forward-thinking work around why family engagement to improve student attendance, and exercising your right to vote is essential. As mentioned in our conversation, learn more about professor Rogers' company, InClass Today, now, EveryDay Labs, his paper, Poison Parasite, and New York Times bestseller, Nudge.

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