Supporting Early Literacy in STL with St. Louis County Library’s Laura Polak
“The library really exists for the community. So we want people to come and take advantage of our services. We want people to let us know if there's something that they think that we could be helping with that they need.” -Laura Polak Today’s guest is Laura Polak, the Early Literacy Coordinator at St. Louis County Library. Laura sat down with Staci to discuss the positive impact an early exposure to reading has on a child, what the library has to offer beyond books, and the community programs that SLCL has to help keep everyone engaged in reading at any age.
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22:27
Starting 60’s: Fighting for Fair Teacher Salaries with Jeffrey “Bo” Dean
“You can’t survive in this economy with making $40,000, especially if you have children, a car note, rent, things of that nature.” -Jeffrey “Bo” Dean Today’s guest is Jeffrey “Bo” Dean, Assistant Principal and Founder at Starting 60’s Initiative. Jeffrey sat down with Staci to discuss the impact of technology and virtual learning, fighting for a living starting wage for teachers, and the role of educators beyond teaching.
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19:51
Empowering Students to Take the Lead at Kairos Academies with Jack Krewson
“Kairos Academies’ mission is to empower students to direct their own lives and learning. That requires a different kind of school model. A school that allows students to make decisions for themselves, and to practice making decisions for themselves.” -Jack Krewson Today’s guest is Jack Krewson, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer at Kairos Academies. Jack sat down with Staci to discuss how Kairos Academies empowers students to make their own decisions, the difference between growth and proficiency scores, and instilling solid executive functioning skills in students.
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55:21
Healing Spaces and Emotional Intelligence in Education with Dr. Kezia Jackson
“Mental health services are something that is very proactive. So, yes, you can come when you’re at your breaking point, but let’s prevent you from getting there.” -Dr. Kezia Jackson Today’s guest is Dr. Kezia Jackson, Founder and Licensed Psychologist at Healing Spaces Psychological Services. Dr. Jackson sat down with Staci to discuss the work Healing Spaces does, the importance of proactive mental health care for students, and the impact of social media in the mental health space.
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43:26
Blues for Kids and Navigate STL Schools Change the Game with Eva O’Shea and Devon Furash
“Blues for Kids felt like Navigate STL Schools was doing something that other organizations weren't…providing tangible resources for children and families in the Saint Louis area from the get go.” -Eva O’Shea Today’s guests are Eva O’Shea, Senior Manager of Community Management, and Devon Furash, Senior Coordinator of Community Development for Blues for Kids of the St. Louis Blues. They sat down with Staci to discuss Navigate STL Schools receiving their Captain’s Grant and the kid’s programs that Blues for Kids and the Blues offer.
This podcast is a Navigate STL Schools/navigatesstlschools.org platform to help families and community members have a better understanding of the educational landscape and opportunities in the city of St. Louis and surrounding communities. Our goal is to speak with subject matter experts and community members alike to understand the opportunities and challenges that face St. Louis families as they embark on K12 education. Navigate STL Schools hopes to give everyone the tools they need to navigate the complex educational system. We want the community to have all of the information that they need to advocate for their families, engage in active discussion, and make more informed decisions with regard to children’s educational future.
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