Bright Spots in Education
Episode 01: Reopening, Learning Loss and English Learners
In this episode, Jeremiah and Moises speak with Vanessa Lopez from Imperial County SELPA and administrators from San Diego Global Vision Academy about best practices for supporting English Learners (ELs) with disabilities. They discuss the challenges of reopening schools, addressing learning loss, and implementing strategies to create more inclusive learning environments.
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- Apple Podcasts – Listen here
- Spotify – Listen here
- Direct Web Link (Blubrry) – Listen here
Episode Details
Release Date: April 7, 2021
Topics Covered:
- Effective strategies for supporting ELs with disabilities
- Addressing learning loss and post-pandemic educational challenges
- Promoting equity and inclusion in academic settings
Resources Mentioned
- Imperial County SELPA | Resources for ELs and Students with Disabilities: Access resources
- San Diego Global Vision Academy: Visit SDGVA.org
- California Practitioner’s Guide for Educating English Learners with Disabilities (CDE)
- San Diego Area Writing Project – Professional development focused on writing, equity, and teacher-led instruction
- Project GLAD – Research-based strategies for fostering language-rich classrooms
- SDSU CGI Collaborative – Strengthening mathematical problem-solving and conceptual understanding
- Imagine Learning – Adaptive literacy programs designed to enhance reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills for students in grades PreK–6: Learn More
Episode 02: High School Graduation and Pathways to the Pandemic Workforce
In this episode, Joyce Montgomery from the California Transition Alliance and Rachel De Bruin, Transition Coordinator for Connecting Waters Charter, share valuable insights on high school transition programs. They discuss resources, personal stories, and best practices, highlighting both challenges and opportunities for graduating students in a post-COVID landscape.
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- Apple Podcasts – Listen here
- Spotify – Listen here
- Direct Web Link (Blubrry) – Listen here
Episode Details
Release Date: July 09, 2021
Topics Covered:
- Building and sustaining strong high school transition programs
- Navigating post-pandemic challenges for graduating students
- Accessing transition resources for educators, parents, and students
Resources Mentioned
- Rachel De Bruin’s Curated Transition Resource Padlets – Visit AbilityEducation.org (Padlet Code: workshop)
- California Transition Alliance – Access transition tools & resources
- California Career Zone – Explore career options
- California Career Center – Career planning resources
- Transition California – Support for students with disabilities
- National Technical Assistance Center on Transition – Guidance for educators & policymakers
- Workforce Innovation Technical Assistance Center – Pre-employment transition services
- Disability Benefits 101 – Planning tools for youth with disabilities
- Job Accommodation Network (JAN) – Workplace accommodations & employment resources
Episode 03: Educational Leadership: Navigating our New Normal
In this episode, Jeremiah and Moises host a live panel of school leaders from across the state to discuss the importance of building a strong school community, educator self-care, and leveraging technology in today's educational landscape. The conversation also explores COVID-19-related challenges, student achievement, and strategies for navigating the new normal in schools.
As a special bonus, this episode features personal stories from attendees at the El Dorado Charter SELPA Leadership Academy, held in July 2021 in San Diego, California.
Listen and Subscribe
- Apple Podcasts – Listen here
- Spotify – Listen here
- Direct Web Link (Blubrry) – Listen here
Episode Details
Release Date: September 7, 2021
Topics Covered:
- Building a strong school community and fostering meaningful connections
- Educator self-care and maintaining well-being in a demanding environment
- Leveraging technology to enhance learning and engagement
- Addressing COVID-19-related challenges and supporting student achievement
Episode 04: Educator Self-Care and the Impact of Positive School Culture
In this episode, Troy Beyer and Maria Osbourne share valuable insights on self-care and fostering a healthy school culture. They also provide an in-depth look at Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and the critical role it plays in supporting students across California schools.
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Episode Details
Release Date: December 13, 2021
Topics Covered:
- The importance of self-care for educators and school staff
- Strategies for creating a positive and resilient school culture
- An inside look at Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and its impact on students
Resources Mentioned
- Charter SELPA Strategic Behavior Intervention Webmodule Series – Access here
- Mental Health Series with Ricky Robertson – Building Resilience in Students
- Jan 20, 2022 – 2:00 PM
- Mar 10, 2022 – 2:00 PM
- Register here
- Ricky Robertson’s Book – Building Resilience – Learn more
- Charter SELPA Fall 2021 Mental Health Newsletter – Read here
- Self-Care Resources for Teachers
- Charter College & Career Prep Program – Visit website
- Literacy First Charter School (San Diego, CA) – Visit website
Episode 05: Embrace What’s Possible
In this special episode, recorded live at the Charter SELPA "Embrace What’s Possible" Symposium in Sacramento, we speak with our keynote speakers:
- Sparsh Shah – Musician and inspirational speaker
- Donovan Taylor Hall – Youth advocate and educator
- Mickey Porter – Leadership coach
We also hear from administrators from Charter SELPA schools, including the Language Academy of Sacramento and iLead Schools, on current best practices in education. They discuss how they are leveraging lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic to enhance student outcomes.
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Episode Details
Release Date: March 10, 2022
Topics Covered:
- Key takeaways from the "Embrace What’s Possible" Symposium
- Insights from keynote speakers on resilience, leadership, and personal growth
- Best practices from Charter SELPA schools for improving student outcomes post-pandemic
Resources Mentioned
- Donovan Taylor Hall – Visit website | Follow @donofriend on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok
- Mickey Porter – Leadership Coaching – Learn more
- Sparsh Shah – Music & Story – Explore here
- Language Academy of Sacramento – Visit website
- iLead Student Services & Supports – Learn more
Episode 06: Leadership through Continuous Improvement
In this episode, recorded live at the annual Charter SELPA Leadership Academy in Sacramento, Jeremiah hosts a panel of education leaders from across California. They discuss new initiatives in their schools, improvement plans for the upcoming year, and key takeaways from the conference.
Later, Jeremiah sits down with Jasmine Vance from System Improvement Leads, a collaborative project between EDCOE, WSGV, and RC SELPAs, to explore the science of school improvement and how schools can prioritize change efforts for maximum impact.
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Episode Details
Release Date: August 3, 2022
Topics Covered:
- New school initiatives and improvement plans from a statewide panel of education leaders
- Key takeaways from the Charter SELPA Leadership Academy
- The science of school improvement and how to drive meaningful change
Resources Mentioned
- Urban Charter Schools Collective (Sacramento Area) – Visit website
- Howard Gardner Community School (Chula Vista, San Diego) – Visit website
- Olive Grove Charter (Central Coast, Santa Barbara & SLO County) – Visit website
- System Improvement Leads – Explore resources | Contact: info@systemimprovement.org
- El Dorado County Office of Education (EDCOE) – Visit website
- West San Gabriel Valley SELPA – Visit website
- Riverside County SELPA – Visit website
- El Dorado Charter SELPA Webmodules & Training Videos – Access resources
Episode 07: Inclusion: Moving Past Awareness to Action
In this episode, Moises and Jeremiah sit down with Diana Pastora Carson, keynote speaker for the upcoming El Dorado Charter SELPA "A Time to Thrive" Symposium in Sacramento on January 27, 2023. Diana shares practical strategies for advocating for inclusion, how to be a strong ally for individuals with disabilities, and how to shift from inspiration to meaningful action in the fight for equal rights and access.
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Episode Details
Release Date: January 6, 2023
Topics Covered:
- The importance of inclusion and how to be an effective ally
- Practical strategies for supporting individuals with disabilities
- Resources for deepening understanding and driving real change
Resources Mentioned
- Register for the "A Time to Thrive" Symposium (1/27/23) – Sign up here
- Diana Pastora Carson – Visit website
- Diana's TED Talk – Watch here
- Beyond Awareness: Disability Awareness That Matters (Podcast) – Listen on Apple Podcasts
Additional Resources
- Paula Kluth – Author of various books on inclusion
- Disability Visibility – Alice Wong
- Care Work – Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha
- Black Disabled Art History – Leroy Moore
- The Pretty One – Keah Brown
- Being Heumann – Judy Heumann
- Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution (Documentary)
- Phoenix Rising (Documentary series)
- Think Inclusive with Tim Villegas (Podcast)
Episode 08: The Power of Hope
In this special episode, recorded live at the 2024 El Dorado Charter SELPA Inspiration to Action Symposium, Jeremiah explores this year’s theme, The Power of Hope. He sits down with keynote speaker Jennifer Wolfsheimer, a disability rights advocate, and morning speaker Dr. Emad Rahim, a best-selling author and professor.
With hundreds of educators from across California in attendance in San Diego, the event recognized and celebrated outstanding schools and educators for their innovation, dedication, and commitment to creating hope and bright futures for students.
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Episode Details
Release Date: February 22, 2024
Topics Covered:
- The Power of Hope and its impact on education
- Key insights from disability rights advocate Jennifer Wolfsheimer
- Dr. Emad Rahim’s expertise on leadership and resilience
- Recognizing outstanding schools and educators at the symposium
Resources Mentioned
-
Dr. Emad Rahim, PMP, OMCP, A-CSM, CMgr - FCMI
- Lifecycle Capacity Consultant – Nonprofit Lifecycles Institute
- Website
- Inclusive 360 LLC
- Featured in Huffington Post & Post Standard
-
Jennifer Wolfsheimer, MS, JD
- Senior Program Associate, WestEd
- LinkedIn Profile
Episode 09: P2P Presents Leadership Through Building Bridges
In this special episode, recorded live at the annual Charter SELPA Leadership Academy in Long Beach, CA, Jeremiah hosts the first-ever collaboration episode with Pathways to Partnership (P2P). He sits down with Aubrie Fulk and the P2P team to explore how their organization supports school leaders, parents, and IEP team members through proactive conflict resolution and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).
Later, Jeremiah moderates a panel discussion with Leadership Academy attendees, highlighting new initiatives in schools, community support strategies, and the importance of stakeholder relationships in special education leadership.
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Episode Details
Release Date: December 9, 2024
Topics Covered:
- Pathways to Partnership’s approach to conflict resolution in education
- How to foster collaboration among school leaders, parents, and IEP teams
- New school initiatives and strategies for building strong school communities
- The role of leadership in developing stakeholder relationships
Resources Mentioned
Pathways to Partnership
- Aubrie Fulk, Director of Student, Family, & District Support
- Alternative Dispute Resolution & Prevention, Tehama County Department of Education
- Visit Website
- California Family Empowerment Center Contact Map
LEA Administrator Panelists
- Cynthia Austin – Director of Special Education, New West Charter School
- Lizzie Downes – Special Education Program Administrator, Green Dot Public Schools
- Tania Gómez (She/Her/Ella) – Special Education Program Administrator, Green Dot Public Schools, California
- 📧 Email: tania.gomez@greendot.org
- Shalene Wright, Ed.D. – Director of Student Services, Environmental Charter Schools
- Mrs. Ashlee Patel – Coordinator of Special Education, Westlake Charter School
Episode 10: P2P Presents Listening Through Conflict with David Dowling
In Episode 10, sponsored by Pathways to Partnership, Jeremiah sits down with conflict resolution expert and mediator David Dowling, live at the 2025 SELPA Administrators of California ADR Conference to discuss how important active listening, managing your own perspective, and intentional communication can be when resolving or managing disagreements.
Listen and Subscribe
- Apple Podcasts – Listen here
- Spotify – Listen here
- Direct Web Link (Blubrry) – Listen here
Episode Details
Release Date: April 4, 2025
Resources Mentioned
David Dowling
https://law.pepperdine.edu/straus/ (Pepperdine Institute for Dispute Resolution)
Book Recommendation:
Getting To Yes (Roger Fisher, William Ury)
For more about Pathways to Partnership, visit www.Pathways2Partnership.org
Welcome to the Bright Spots Podcast, where we give a microphone to content experts and practitioners doing timely and innovative work to support students across the state of California and beyond.